We trust we've learned our lessons, says Gene Haas after 2020 launch

The 2019 Formula 1 season was a humbling experience for Gene Haas’ team, as they dropped from their fifth placed constructors’ finishing position in 2018 down to ninth, ahead only of Williams.

An aerodynamic instability issue on last season’s Haas VF-19 meant the team scored points in five of 21 races and were left with a tally of just 28 by the final race in Abu Dhabi. But after unveiling his team’s 2020 contender, the VF-20, Haas underlined his hope that the squad had learned their lessons from last season, and could begin the rebuilding process in 2020.

READ MORE: Haas first to reveal 2020 F1 car with return to familiar livery

“We’ve been through a real education process, one that comes to all Formula One teams at some stage,” said Haas. “I’m trusting we’ve learned from those lessons and have applied that knowledge into making the VF-20 a more competitive entry.

“Frankly, I’m hoping the VF-20 will return us to the kind of form we ran in 2018 when we finished fifth in the constructors’ championship,” he added. “2019 was a tough season to endure.”

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Haas also admitted that he was happy to see his cars back in the company’s traditional livery, following their sponsor-led switch to a black and gold design in 2019 – and hoped that the colour swap would prove to be a positive sign for 2020.

“I’m pleased to see the car return to the more familiar Haas Automation colours. It’s certainly a livery that people identify with,” said Haas. “It’s important to me that we’re back in the mix and consistently scoring points. We certainly have the capability, and we’ve proved as an organisation we can do it.”

The Haas VF-20 will hit the track for the first time on February 19 – in the hands of the team’s 2020 driver pairing of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen – when the six days of pre-season testing begin at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

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