Haas will introduce a variation on its typical livery to mark the beginning of cherry blossom season at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The American staff has added pink cherry blossom graphics to its VF-25s for the upcoming spherical at Suzuka.
The Japanese Grand Prix moved to a spring date for the primary time final 12 months. The occasion now coincides with ‘sakura’ – the cherry blossom season. Many timber across the observe had been in bloom throughout final 12 months’s race.
Haas has strengthened its ties to Japan since Ayao Komatsu took over as staff principal firstly of final 12 months. The staff signed a technical collaboration take care of Toyota final season.
As a part of the Toyota deal, the Japanese producer’s junior drivers have alternatives to check for the staff. Ryo Hirakawa drove for them in post-season testing on the finish of final 12 months, although he has since joined Alpine as one in every of its reserve drivers.
The staff heads into this weekend’s race after scoring the second-best lead to its historical past within the earlier spherical at Shanghai. Esteban Ocon completed fifth and Oliver Bearman eighth following a spate of post-race disqualifications. The staff is sixth within the championship at this early stage within the season.
Nevertheless Komatsu admitted he has some issues over the staff’s efficiency this weekend. The season-opening spherical in Melbourne indicated the VF-25 shouldn’t be aggressive in high-speed corners of the sort which dominate Suzuka’s format.
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“Though we raced competitively in Shanghai, we all know that we nonetheless carry a basic automotive subject that was uncovered in Melbourne,” he stated. “We’re going into this weekend with our eyes broad open to deal with any challenges we’d face and purpose to get one of the best out of the VF-25 and our drivers.”
Haas is unlikely to be the one staff to run a particular livery for this weekend’s race. Pink Bull is predicted to disclose a particular tribute livery for Honda just like the one it raced on the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix. McLaren was the only team to produce a special livery for this race last year.
