Haas F1

Haas F1 Team — American Grit Meets F1 Ambition (2025)

1. Origins & Underdog Ambition

Founded in April 2014 by industrialist Gene Haas, the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team entered the grid in 2016 as the first new F1 entry in six years. It was the first American-led F1 team in decades, backed by a unique technical partnership with Ferrari and the leadership of Guenther Steiner to steer its early years. (GQ, F1 Wiki)

2. Ownership & Financial Milestone

Gene Haas—and his fortune from Haas Automation and NASCAR ties—remains fully committed. For the first time in team history, Haas does not need to subsidize the team in 2025, having hit the budget cap and reached a sustainable financial footing through sponsorships and prize money. (RACER)

Offers to buy the team have come and gone; Haas rebuffed them all, insisting he's there to stay in F1 on his terms. (Newsweek)

3. Leadership & Technical Core

• Team Principal: Ayao Komatsu, who transitioned from engineering leadership to head the team in 2024 following Steiner’s departure. (haasf1team.com)

• Technical Architecture: The VF‑25 is an evolution of the VF‑24. Collaboration between the UK and Maranello design offices, under the guidance of Technical Director Andrea de Zordo, reflects strengthened methodology and aero capabilities. (The Race)

4. 2025 Challenger — VF-25

The VF‑25 debuted in early 2025 with a striking MoneyGram livery and design tweaks—bulgier sidepods and a refreshed rear wing distinguish it from Ferrari’s SF‑25, despite sharing some components like gearbox and rear suspension. The shakedown at Silverstone gave the team confidence that momentum is solid. (AutoGear)

5. Driver Line-Up: Experience Meets Raw Talent

• Esteban Ocon, the seasoned French driver, joined after departing Alpine to become Haas’s established leader. (Goodwood)

• Oliver Bearman, 19-year-old Ferrari Academy rookie, steps up full-time to partner Ocon and is contracted through 2026. (Talksport)

6. 2025 Season Snapshot

Fresh off a solid P7 finish in 2024, Haas heads into 2025 with renewed financial stability and momentum. The VF‑25 reflects improved engineering synergy across its facilities. As Reuters points out, the team is positioning to claim the “America’s F1 team” mantle—a title now threatened by Cadillac’s entrance in 2026. (Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website)

7. Strengths & Challenges

Strengths:

• Financial autonomy and hitting the budget cap for the first time.

• Technical growth between UK and Italy teams.

• A potent driver pairing—steady leadership from Ocon and ambitious raw pace from Bearman.

Risks:

• Still mid-pack; breaking into top 5 remains an uphill battle.

• Rookie Bearman could face early-season haze.

• Cadillac’s pending entry may dilute Haas’s U.S. identity as the American contender.

8. My Straight-Shooting Take

Haas is no longer “just surviving.” 2025 is about stability made radical: budget discipline, design cohesion, and a clear roadmap. Under Komatsu’s watch, this team’s rise feels calculated—and it's working. If Bearman unlocks rookie magic and Ocon delivers consistency, Haas has a shot at cracking those elusive points—and maybe, just maybe, stealing the show as F1’s sleeper story. If Cadillac arrives roaring, Haas will need to keep that momentum bold.

Haas Quick Facts — 2025