Gene Haas

Originally from NASCAR, Gene Haas made his entry into Formula 1 as a team owner in 2016. With this, Haas became the first American constructor on the grid since the participation of Haas Lola (unrelated to the current Haas team) in 1985 and 1986.

Haas began his career as a machinist and CNC programmer. In 1978, he founded Pro-turn Engineering, a small machine shop with two employees. Five years later, he started Haas Automation after his own innovation received positive feedback. The innovation was launched as the Haas Brothers Indexer, marking the beginning of the company's major successes. Today, Haas Automation is one of the largest manufacturers of machine tools in the world, generating an annual profit of one billion dollars.

In 2002, Haas formed a NASCAR team called Haas CNC Racing, but major successes were elusive. In 2009, driver Tony Stewart joined the team in exchange for a fifty-percent stake in it. For Haas, the deal was worthwhile, as the team greatly benefited from the successful driver, as well as the sponsors and staff he brought along. The team entered a new era and was rebranded as Stewart-Haas Racing, which continues to compete for top positions to this day.

In early 2014, Haas confirmed his interest in Formula 1 and his intention to enter with his own team by 2015 or 2016. A few months later, the FIA license was secured. Later that year, he bought the headquarters of the bankrupt Marussia F1 team in Banbury, along with data and designs for the 2015 car. With this, Haas was well on his way to his F1 debut, which came at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, with Guenther Steiner as team principal.

To avoid high production costs from crippling the team, Haas decided to source components for the F1 car from elsewhere. This led to a partnership with Ferrari, a relationship that has grown stronger over the years. Ferrari also supplies the engine.

The American team has experienced varying levels of success since entering F1 in 2016, with a fifth place finish in 2018 as the high point and a last place finish in 2021 as the low point. However, that year, the team used the time to develop the car for 2022, focusing on the revised regulations. This decision paid off, as Haas finished the championship in eighth place, despite a slump in the second half of the season.