Haas to debut car at first test of 2016

The new Haas Formula One team will give their 2016 car its first official track outing at the opening pre-season test of the year next March. That is according to the American squad’s team principal Guenther Steiner.

In recent seasons even existing teams have often struggled to - or chosen not to - have their cars ready for the first test of the year, but Steiner is confident Haas’s Ferrari-powered machine will be completed in time.

“On 1st March 2016, on the first all-team test day,” Steiner told Formula1.com when asked about its debut. “It could be that we will perform a shake-down one day before - on 29th February - but nothing more is planned so far.”

Next year is expected to see a reduction in pre-season testing, with the three (four-day) sessions of 2015 cut to just two (four-day) sessions - a change that won’t aid Haas’s preparations for their first F1 campaign.

“I wouldn’t say [it’s] a problem - it is what it is,” conceded Steiner, philosophically. “We have to live with it.”

Haas are hoping to announce their driver line-up later this month, with at least one experienced F1 name expected to feature, and will lodge their official entry for next year’s championship with the FIA in October.