Haas has become the latest team to send its 2025 F1 car on a test run at Silverstone ahead of the new season.
After a challenging 2023 in which the team finished in last place in the standings, Haas moved to seventh in 2024.
The American team is entering a new era this season, with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg departing.
In their place is an all-new lineup that includes former Alpine driver Esteban Ocon and the highly rated Briton Oliver Bearman.
Opting to join McLaren and Williams in staging shakedowns at Silverstone, the new VF-25 took to the British track on Sunday.
Esteban had the honour of driving the new VF25 for the first time, putting it through its paces at the British circuit.
Optimism for the season ahead
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is optimistic about the season ahead, believing the team is on a better financial footing.
As reported by PlanetF1.com, Komatsu said owner Gene Haas’s finances are not required for 2025, stating the team enters the year with a different mindset.
“This year is the first time that, I think, as a company, Gene doesn’t have to put his money in, so it’s great,” he said.
“We haven’t been hitting budget cap, [but] we are hitting the budget cap this year, so we’ve got a whole different challenge of making sure we stay within the budget cap.
“Before, because we are under the budget cap, if we had money, we could spend it, if you like, without worrying about it – but now we have to think about making sure we stay within the budget cap and [be] efficient. The things we can exclude, we need to exclude, etc.
“That’s a whole different mindset. But again, if you want to be competitive, that’s [the] minimum where you should be, right?
“So finally, I feel like we’re ticking many boxes, like we started doing TPC [testing], be on the budget cap and being basically profitable, if you like.
“So, with all the prize money from last year, sponsorship money, etc, etc, this year, Gene shouldn’t have to put his money in, which is great.”
Feature Image Credit: Haas F1 Media
