Why Niki Lauda was surprised by Haas before their first Formula 1 test in 2016

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Haas are the youngest team on the Formula 1 grid, having joined the sport in 2016. While some of their rivals have gone through rebrands since, they all have longer histories in the sport.

They are the only team on the grid who haven’t scored a podium, but perhaps that’s no surprise because Haas are the smallest team in F1. Their best day so far surely came at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, where Kevin Magnussen remarkably took pole position.

But their very first race was also a highlight. Romain Grosjean, their marquee driver signing from Lotus, took a sensational sixth place in Australia.

Grosjean would follow that up with a P5 in Bahrain, though the team struggled in the development race afterwards. He only managed three more points-finishes, while teammate Esteban Gutierrez didn’t score at all.

Still, Grosjean’s early scalps were enough to seal eighth in the constructors’ championship for Haas. Having beaten Renault, Sauber and Manor, they sealed a healthy pot of prize money for a debutant.

The North Carolina outfit held onto that position a year later before an all-time-best P5 in 2018. After scoring just three points in two miserable years at the start of the decade, they have recovered to become a competitive midfield outfit again.

Guenther Steiner says Haas exceeded Niki Lauda’s expectations in 2016

Haas’ original team principal Guenther Steiner had previously worked in F1 with Jaguar and their successors Red Bull. During his time in charge of Jaguar, legendary driver Niki Lauda hired Steiner as managing director.

The pair remained close, with Lauda becoming a shareholder at the Mercedes team. Ahead of Haas’ 2016 debut, the Austrian paid the team a visit and was impressed with what he saw.

The Silver Arrows were the dominant force in the sport at that time, two years into a run of eight straight constructors’ championships. This only enhanced the legacy of three-time world champion Lauda, who died in 2019.

“We got to Barcelona – I think it was the day before the first test day – Niki Lauda came by without me calling him,” Steiner recalled on the Sky Sports F1 podcast. “[He said] ‘I want to check out if you did a good job’.

“It was a friend saying it. He said ‘actually, you are better prepared than I thought you would be’. That was pretty cool from Niki to say. You see your real friends there.”

What Esteban Ocon saw at Haas factory that’s missing at Alpine

Steiner is no longer involved at Haas. The team’s eponymous owner Gene decided not to renew his contract at the end of 2023.

Ayao Komatsu has fared ably in his stead, leading the team to seventh in the standings after 18 races. While their primary focus is battling RB – just three points ahead – for sixth, Komatsu admits he’s worried about Williams behind.

For the first time in their history, they will field a race-winner next season after signing Esteban Ocon. Ocon says Haas staff showed a ‘passion’ that was missing at Alpine.

Steiner would have fought to keep Hulkenberg, who’s joining rivals Sauber/Audi. Ocon will partner Ferrari-backed rookie Oliver Bearman next year.