Haas Racing soon in F1?
Launched last December by the FIA, the tender for the entry of a new team into F1 for 2015 or 2016 has reportedly favored the American structure led by Gene Haas.
Are we finally getting closer to the result of the tender launched by the FIA last December, which was supposed to be concluded at the end of February? It seems the answer is yes, according to Bernie Ecclestone, president of Formula One Management (FOM), whose approval is necessary for a new team to enter the discipline.
Thus, questioned by the British newspaper The Independent, Ecclestone commented on the tender process and the application from Haas Racing Developments, showing optimism for the project presented by the American, Gene Haas: « I think Haas will be accepted. They have the money, but the question is how much they are going to spend. »
If the result of the tender was not given on February 28, as initially announced, it is due to lingering doubts, mainly from the F1’s chief financial officer, about Haas’s financial commitment. Apparently, these doubts have been somewhat alleviated by the owner of Haas Automation, a company that reports annual revenues of about one billion dollars.
« A billion would last, for a new team owner, four years » says Ecclestone, before adding: « I talked to Haas but I don’t know what they’re going to do. It’s America, so I don’t know. » Since the beginning of the process, the candidacy of the entrepreneur and founder of a NASCAR team that partly bears his name (Stewart-Haas Racing) seems the most serious and the one that benefits from the most solid resource guarantees.
On his side, Gene Haas recently explained his understanding of the bidding process: « It’s not like just anyone is making a decision. They all come together as a group and look at the package and they make their decision, but ultimately, I think it comes down to Mr. Ecclestone. »
Haas Racing Developments is not the only team that responded to the tender since a Romanian group—in which former HRT director Colin Kolles was involved—was also in the running until now. On the other hand, the third known candidate, Stefan GP, chose to throw in the towel a few weeks ago.
A decision should be made soon. The team’s entry into the discipline is scheduled for 2015 or 2016.
