Haas unveil "the most complex project" with new 2022 F1 car

Ian Parkes
Friday 4 February 2022 12:00

Haas has become the first team to unveil the new-for-2022 aerodynamic concept that will now feature in F1 from this season.

Following a dramatic change to the FIA regulations designed to promote closer racing and so aid overtaking, the cars incorporate a ground-effect floor, simplified front wing and a dramatic-shaped rear wing.

Additionally, this year's cars also boast Pirelli's 18-inch wheels and low-profile tyres.

The images of the VF-22 below are renders, with the car likely to be very different when it rolls out of the garage on the first day of pre-season testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya on February 23.

Ahead of the team's seventh season in F1, the car is the first to come from its new design office in Maranello, Italy, now led by technical director Simone Resta.

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After opting against development on last year's car in order to focus on the new set of regulations, team owner Gene Haas is hopeful the VF-22 will propel Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher into the points following a miserable scoreless year in 2021.

“It’s that time of year where you’re naturally optimistic that the hard work and effort of everyone will translate to a competitive entry on track," said Haas.

"We made the decision back in 2020 to really channel time and resources into the VF-22, foregoing anything track-related for 2021 - which wasn’t easy to watch.

"Hopefully that decision bears fruit and we return to challenging for points and taking something from the weekends.”

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Team principal Guenther Steiner would like to believe Haas can rediscover past form when it finished fifth in the constructors' standings in 2018.

“It’s exciting to be at the point where we know the VF-22 will be on track shortly,” said Steiner.

"We all know what the team is capable of, we’ve proved that in the past, and with this new car, born out of a completely new set of regulations and with our new design team in place, I’m confident we can showcase again that we can compete on weekends.

"It’s been a tremendous effort by everyone involved and now comes the fun part of getting the new car to the circuit and dialling in all the elements.

"Last season was a long one but I’m confident that 2022 will see us back in the mix with the VF-22.”

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Resta, meanwhile, has described it as "the most complex project Haas has dealt with to date for many reasons".

He added: “It’s a completely new set of regulations and this season we’ve brought in a new team to manage the creation of the VF-22.

"Not everyone is new but a good chunk of people have joined with a revised structure now in place. I consider this as a great success in the process.

"We’re still early in the project and going through a transitional season of working together on a car for a full year, but if we look back where we started, this team is already a success.”