The brand new season is quick approaching, and behind the scenes, all groups are already working to arrange for the brand new championship. Haas began its 2025 marketing campaign a number of days in the past at Jerez with its first “historic” TPC (Take a look at Earlier Automobiles) session, utilizing a automotive that’s at the least two seasons outdated, a uncommon alternative made potential this 12 months because of new funding.
A primary return to the observe, albeit with an outdated automotive, whereas ready for the season to start and for the 2 drivers to get their first style of the VF-25, the brand new automotive for the 2025 World Championship. As normal for the American group, there shall be no devoted automotive unveiling, although previously they had been usually the primary to disclose the shapes and colours of the brand new automotive by means of renders.
To see the brand new livery, followers should anticipate the occasion organized by System 1 in London on February 18, when all ten groups will unveil their 2025 shade schemes collectively.
Debut at Silverstone on February 16 with Ocon
Nonetheless, the primary look of the long run VF-25 will come a number of days earlier, on February 16, when the 2025 automotive will full its first kilometers throughout a filming day at Silverstone, adopted by one other in Bahrain two days earlier than the beginning of pre-season testing.
Haas has additionally determined to separate the driving duties: Esteban Ocon will drive through the filming day in England, whereas Oliver Bearman will drive extra persistently through the filming day in Bahrain. Whereas this may appear uncommon, it truly has a selected goal.
Esteban Ocon is among the tallest drivers on the grid, and the group has encountered some issue making ready the automotive for the French driver. Though Haas is assured these minor points have been resolved, they wish to take further precautions: therefore the choice to have Ocon drive first in Silverstone, permitting time to resolve any potential points earlier than testing begins. The seat becoming will happen in Italy subsequent week.
The VF-25 Will Characteristic Totally different Options from Ferrari 2025
The VF-25 can even be a automotive that, for the primary time, distances itself from a few of Ferrari’s technical selections. Through the years, the American group has persistently chosen to undertake the newest specs from Maranello for numerous parts of their automotive, generally even aligning with their aerodynamic selections, particularly through the ground-effect period.
Nonetheless, this 12 months the VF-25 is not going to totally comply with Ferrari’s lead, as a result of, in contrast to the Scuderia, which has opted for a pull-rod entrance suspension for 2025, Haas is not going to modify the entrance suspension structure in comparison with final 12 months. As reported by Motorsport.com and now confirmed by Staff Principal Ayao Komatsu, the 2025 Haas automotive will hold the push-rod entrance suspension from the VF-24, setting it aside from Ferrari.
The change in structure has aerodynamic causes and performs an vital position, as it really works intently with each the airflow from the entrance wing and influences how the airflow strikes throughout the remainder of the automotive. After technical assessments, together with the time wanted to revise the design for only one 12 months earlier than the 2026 revolution, Haas determined to stay with a well-known answer, sustaining the 2024 specification.
“That is one other vital side as a result of, up till now, within the 9 seasons of Haas in F1, we’ve at all times chosen the newest specification from Ferrari. And never as a result of it was a acutely aware determination, however as a result of it was the most secure and best alternative,” commented Komatsu.
“When our technical leads got here to talk to me… truly, it was one thing we had already mentioned in earlier seasons, however we by no means did it, we by no means did a carryover of the entrance suspension, for instance. However this time our engineers regarded on the priorities and mentioned, ‘If we purchase the newest 2025 entrance suspension specification from Ferrari, when will we’ve got this info out there? What is going to change aerodynamically?’
“As a result of, while you make such a change, it positively has an influence, and also you begin making comparisons. At that time, you see how a lot potential that answer can unlock in comparison with the truth that we gained’t cease growth as a result of we’re protecting the identical suspension specification. How a lot potential remains to be in that specification?”
“You then begin doing particular research, and our conclusion was that we should always do a carryover. It’s optimistic that we did the thorough research, so we had the boldness to make this determination, whereas earlier than we didn’t have that. When the engineers really helpful we do the carryover and go forward with this specification after doing in-depth research, I mentioned, ‘Okay, let’s go down this path.’”
Whereas the entrance suspension will stay unchanged, the rear suspension, in addition to the gearbox casing, will as a substitute undertake the options designed by Ferrari for 2025, so Haas shall be geared up with the newest specification, together with all of the updates.
New Chassis for Extra Freedom and Unlocking Untapped Potential
With 2026 and the brand new technical laws on the horizon, it was speculated that some groups may restrict chassis adjustments with a carryover. Nonetheless, that gained’t be the case for Haas, because the VF-25 will function a revised chassis: a needed change to permit higher design freedom, notably aerodynamically.
Through the growth of the VF-24, final season’s automotive, engineers found that sure limitations as a result of chassis design had been hindering the unlocking of potential discovered throughout CFD research. In consequence, the VF-25 will function a redesigned physique, giving technicians extra room to implement new options.
“Sure, [we’ll have a new chassis]. Final 12 months, we developed the automotive fairly properly, however there have been some limitations we needed to settle for. Halfway by means of the season, we realized the way to unlock further efficiency, however we couldn’t do it with the Silverstone and Austin packages as a result of chassis design limitations. So, we determined to switch it this 12 months.”