Haas release pictures of "more aggressive" VF-17: US team looking for step forward in second F1 season after impressive debut
Sunday 26 February 2017 14:46, UK
Haas have released pictures of their second Formula 1 car as they look to build on an impressive debut campaign in 2017.
Named the VF-17, this season's challenger has been teased just ahead of pre-season testing, when the American outfit will hope to a quick and reliable start to the campaign.
The car was build under a new set of technical regulations and features a wider front wing and tyres, along with a 'shark fin' towards the rear wing that matches their livery colour.
"I think the pedal box is the same, but all the rest is very different from last year's car," said team principal Guenther Steiner. "The aero is completely new, as are the tires, so we needed to have some built-in adjustability.
"Aesthetically, the car has a more aggressive look. It's lighter and more aerodynamically efficient. Everything we learned from our first car has been applied to our new car."
Haas finished 2016 - their first year in the sport - in eighth place in the constructors' standings with 29 points, the most of any new team this millennium. However, 18 of those points were scored in the season's first two races, while all of them were collected by Romain Grosjean.
Perhaps that is why the team have dumped Esteban Gutierrez to bring in Kevin Magnussen, who rejected Renault's one-year extension in favour of a longer deal with Haas.
Both Grosjean and Magnussen have experience of challenging towards the front of the grid, and both will be keen to impress Haas' engine suppliers and partners Ferrari.
2017 car launches
February 17: Williams FW40, Online preview
February 20: Sauber C36
February 21: Renault RS17
February 22: Force India VJM10
February 23: Mercedes W08
February 24: Ferrari SF70-H
February 24: McLaren MCL32
February 26: Red Bull RB13
February 26: Haas VF17, Online
February 26: Toro Rosso STR12, Barcelona
The first F1 pre-season test starts on Monday February 27 and the Sky Sports F1 Digital team will be providing live commentary from dawn until dusk on all four days while Sky Sports News HQ will also deliver live updates from trackside.
