F1: Haas embarks on 2017 recruitment drive

Haas has begun a recruitment drive to bolster its staffing numbers as it accelerates its preparations for the 2017 Formula 1 season.

The American newcomer has made an impressive start to the season, with Romain Grosjean's sixth in the Australian Grand Prix and fifth in Bahrain helping the team to fifth in F1's constructors' championship so far. Haas has all components teams do not have to design themselves supplied by Ferrari, plus access to the Scuderia's wind tunnel and latest specification of engine. The model has so far proved to be a success and that partnership is set to continue, according to Haas team boss Gunther Steiner.

However, in order to accelerate its plans for 2017 plans – when the regulations will feature significant bodywork changes – Haas is looking from aerodynamicists as well as aero performance engineers and analysts.

"It will be the same," said Steiner of his team's cooperation with Ferrari. "We just need more people. With more people, we can get more done. It is the result of the 2017 car. We need to put pressure on to develop the 2017 car now."

Steiner said the team will continue to use the Ferrari wind tunnel in an arrangement that will "be exactly the same as this year."

He added: "The scale model goes back to Dallara and when we go testing, we will go to Ferrari."

Steiner said the new staff will be based in Italy and once recruitment is finished, the team's total manpower will rise to just over 180 people.

"We have Haas Italia," said Steiner. "We have some offices in Dallara which we rent so they will be based there.

"The staffing numbers are going up but not by a lot. Some are for vacant positions which we didn't fill last year."

Originally on Autosport.com