The new Haas VF-21 Formula 1 car has finally appeared, but there’s not really much to say about it.
The team has said it intends to do zero development on this year’s car and will instead concentrate on 2022. That’s its decision but it’s not something I agree with.
You have to keep improving your understanding of how changes fit in with your development direction. This gives you confidence in decisions that can very easily influence your 2022 car.
Other than complying with the changes in regulations for the narrower floor at the rear, the elimination of the slots in the floor, the shorter diffuser strakes and reduced brake duct turning vanes, which can all be achieved by taking a jig-saw to last year’s components, Haas’s 2021 preparation is largely down to a new paint scheme and getting the new drivers up to speed.
Haas ran last year with a double turning vane on top of the floor just in front of the rear tyre, so that sort of concept is not too far away from what seems to be the direction that some teams are currently using to get the best from this year’s rules.
But having more or less the same car is not all bad. It will allow Haas to get the best out of what it has while allowing both Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin to focus on adapting to the F1 environment.
There are also gains from the Ferrari power unit, which has also led to a slightly more tightly-packaged rear bodywork. But otherwise little has changed in the visible aerodynamic surfaces.
This approach will also allow Haas to regroup and recharge its budget, which was getting rather depleted.
