F1: We can score points this year - Haas

Recent F1 newcomer teams have struggled to make a mark – the squads that began life as Lotus and Hispania both folded without scoring, while Virgin/Marussia/Manor only has Jules Bianchi's ninth place in the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix to show for its six seasons on the grid. But having seacured a comprehensive technical partnership with Ferrari, Haas has set its sights higher for the VF-16.

"Our goal with this car is to score points," team principal Gunther Steiner said. "First, we need to go out there and show that we can do the job, that we can finish races, that we are respected by the fans and other teams in the paddock. Then, we want to score points. That is the ultimate goal."

Haas has made use of the recently introduced "listed parts" regulations to receive multiple components from Ferrari as well as an engine and powertrain supply. Its primary focus for its design has been the car's monocoque and bodywork, with most other elements coming from Maranello.

Steiner said the design inevitably therefore had Ferrari cues given the need to package the Italian team's engine and other parts, but that Haas had generally tried to follow wider F1 design trends.

"We're a new team, so we looked at what the successful teams were doing to give us a baseline of the direction we needed to go with our design," he said. "We have very experienced designers who worked hard to develop all the little things from an aerodynamic perspective that, collectively, add up to a lot. And our technical partner, Ferrari, provided our power unit, and that really defined the rear end of the car and how big it needed to be."

The VF-16 designation has its roots in the "VF-1" title given to the first machine manufactured by team founder Gene Haas's CNC business in 1988. That title was chosen as an acronym of the phrase "very first one."

The team has opted for a gray, black and red livery for its F1 car in keeping with the color scheme used for Haas's Haas Automation firm's products.

• VIDEO: HAAS INTRODUCES FIRST F1 CAR

Originally on Autosport.com