A factory in the USA, a bad choice for Haas Formula?
After doubts raised by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya (F1, NASCAR, and Indycar driver), former drivers John Watson and Johnny Herbert believe that Gene Haas should abandon his project of building a factory in North America for his F1 team.
After receiving the green light from the FIA to create a new F1 team, American Gene Haas quickly expressed his desire for a team based at his NASCAR facilities in Kannapolis, USA. This situation would clearly not be favorable for transportation savings since most races are in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, far from this North Carolina town, a stone’s throw from Charlotte, the temple of NASCAR. According to Johnny Herbert: “You have to be based in Europe, you can’t go to the deep south of the United States and expect, once it’s tested, for example, to send the new parts.” The Englishman adds: “Developments play a big part in Formula 1 and it’s something they need to take seriously because I think it would be a miscalculation to be based in America.”
Despite Haas’s idea of creating a branch in Germany or Italy, John Watson raises another issue with Sky Sports: « He plans to build his car from a Dallara [Italian single-seater chassis manufacturer], so why base in North America when everything will have to travel by plane from Europe to North America to be assembled before a return trip for the European season? I think you start off on the wrong foot when you base your team in North Carolina. »
The Irishman adds that it would be preferable for the American boss to buy an existing team, some of which are experiencing financial difficulties, and take advantage of the tools in place to develop his project. There are a number of teams on the market that are viable, but so far he has taken this other choice. Maybe that will change before the end of the season.
Joe Custer, General Manager of Haas Formula, states that they are at the very beginning of the program and nothing is set in stone: « We need to identify our technical partner. This will take as long as it takes. We need to do it right. We only have one shot. We must be patient and not rush [risking] that all parties do not have the opportunity to explore the possibilities of getting involved and also, on our side, to know our needs. We are in the process of determining our needs and what the partners are offering. »
The question of recruitment is at the same stage as the technical aspect; at the very beginning of the program. They have already recruited Günther Steiner, a former member of Red Bull and Jaguar. On the question of bringing in support like Stefano Domenicali, recently let go by Ferrari, Joe Custer responds that no negotiations are underway… but that the doors remain open.
