Haas rolls out 2020 F1 car ahead of testing at Barcelona

The Haas Formula 1 team has officially launched its 2020 challenger with a rollout in the Barcelona pitlane prior to the start of pre-season testing. 

After becoming the first team to reveal its livery for the upcoming season earlier this month, Haas took the covers off its VF-20 contender on the morning of the opening winter test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 

Haas’ latest challenger will see a return to its original black, red and grey colour scheme after running a black-and-gold livery in 2019 due to its title partnership deal with Rich Energy, which was terminated after less than a year. 

The VF-20 will be the Haas teams fifth car since it joined the F1 grid in 2016. It will once again be driven by Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, who were both retained for a fourth successive year as teammates. 

Haas’ new car hit the track for the first time on Monday as part of a shared filming day at Barcelona with Renault and Williams also taking part. McLaren also completed a shakedown run at the Spanish Grand Prix venue on Sunday. 

Magnussen will be first behind the wheel of the VF-20 when winter testing gets underway on Wednesday, before handing over to Grosjean on Thursday. The pair are due to share running on the third and final day of the first test. 

The American squad is looking to move back towards the front of the midfield pack in 2020 after a disappointing 2019 campaign in which it slipped to ninth in the constructors’ championship, ahead of only Williams. It marked the American’s squad’s worst-ever finish in the standings since making its debut.

Haas appeared to be in strong shape after pre-season testing last year but its VF-19 proved inconsistent as the team struggled to get on top of its performance and development issues that hampered its season. 

Alfa Romeo will be the 10th and last team to official launch its 2020 car in an unveiling in the Barcelona pit lane that is due to take place 15 minutes after Haas’ at 0815 local time (0715 GMT), before pre-season testing gets underway at 0900 local time (0800 GMT). 

Take a ride on board with @RGrosjean as he took the VF-20 out for its very first lap on Monday #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/2vaGdntg9O

— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 18, 2020