Romain Grosjean says developing the first ever Haas Formula 1 car has been a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”, ahead of the team’s debut in Australia this weekend.
The American outfit enjoyed an encouraging eight days of pre-season testing, completing 412 laps in total. The VF-16 uses a Dallara chassis and is powered by the Ferrari power unit.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, being part of a new team and driving the car out of the garage for the first time, especially with Haas being an American team," Grosjean said on helping contribute to a brand new car.
"It’s been a unique experience. It’s good to be able to give your advice, give your feedback. All the engineers have been listening a lot. Everyone is an important piece of the puzzle and we’re all trying to do our best."
When asked how good the first Haas car is, he replied: "It’s a good car with a really good baseline. It felt very similar to the simulator, which is good as well.
"It’s probably going to help us work twice as fast. I felt comfortable straight away in the car. There are a few things we can still adapt and get better but, in general, I was very happy with the way the VF-16 has been working."
The Frenchman, who previously raced for Lotus, says it is too early to set goals and just wants to score points as soon as possible.
