Picture caption: .
Romain Grosjean of France speaks during a press conference as Haas F1 Team
announces Grosjean as their driver for the upcoming 2016 Formula 1 season on
September 29, 2015 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C.
Tilton/Stewart-Haas Racing via Getty Images)
Haas F1 Team
has announced that their first driver for their 2016 debut in the FIA Formula 1
World Championship will be Romain Grosjean.
The 29-year
old Frenchman who is currently driving for Lotus F1 Team was to be out of a
contract after the 2016 season. While the team confirmed Pastor Maldonado for
2016, and Renault confirming that they have started their acquisition of Lotus
F1 Team to form a full Renault works team, no information was announced on
Grosjean’s future.
Haas F1
team’s entry into Formula 1 will be the first American-led Formula One team in
30 years.
Gene Haas,
founder and chairman, Haas F1 Team said “We wanted an experienced driver
capable of developing our car and our race team into one that can score points
and better itself each race and each season. We found him in Romain Grosjean,”
Guenther
Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team said that they wanted someone who has
experience and was still hungry. “I think we found the right guy.”
“In addition
to being an experienced Formula One driver, Romain is very technically minded.
“He gives strong, specific feedback as to how the car performs. As we develop
our car in testing and throughout the season, his insight will be crucial.”
Steiner added.
“What Gene
Haas and everyone at Haas F1 Team are building is impressive, and I’m very
proud to be a part of it,” Grosjean said, adding that “Formula One is
incredibly competitive and the only way to succeed is by finding new ways of
doing things. This is a new opportunity with a new team that is taking a very
different approach to Formula One. I believe in their approach and they believe
in me. While I am committed to giving my absolute best to my current team in
these last five races, I am very excited for what the future holds at Haas F1
Team.”
Haas F1 Tem
has confirmed that they will be ready and present by the first pre-season
testing at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona scheduled from March 1-4, 2016
where Grosjean will make his debut with the team. The second test is scheduled
at the same venue from March 15-18, 2016 before the season opener for the
Australian Grand Prix which is to be held from April 1-3, 2016.
About Haas F1 Team:
Haas F1 Team
will debut in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2016, where it will
become the first American-led Formula One team since 1986. Founded by
industrialist Gene Haas, Haas F1 Team is based in the United States on the same
Kannapolis, North Carolina campus as his championship-winning NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series team, Stewart-Haas Racing. Haas is the founder of Haas Automation, the
largest CNC machine tool builder in North America, and he is chairman of Haas
F1 Team.
About Haas Automation:
Haas
Automation, Inc., is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. Founded by
Gene Haas in 1983, Haas Automation manufactures a complete line of vertical and
horizontal machining centers, turning centers and rotary tables and indexers.
All Haas products are built in the company’s 93.000 square-meter (1 million
square-foot) manufacturing facility in Oxnard, California, and distributed
through a worldwide network of Haas Factory Outlets that provides the
industry’s best sales, service and support while offering unparalleled
cost-to-performance value.