The Haas F1 Team has released images of its 2021 car and a striking new livery courtesy of the team's new title sponsors Uralkali.
The actual car won't break cover until next week at the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
But digital renderings of the VF-21 that will be driven by the team’s all-rookie lineup of Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher were released across the team’s social media channels on Thursday morning.
The images reveal a new predominantly white livery with significant branding for their new sponsors, one of the world’s largest potash fertilizer producers and exporters part-owned by Russian businessman Dmitry Mazepin.
Branding for Haas Automation continues to have a prominent position on the sidepods of the car.
"I’m very pleased to welcome Uralkali to Formula 1 as title partner to Haas F1 Team,” said team owner Gene Haas. “We look forward to representing their brand throughout the season.
"It’s an exciting time for the team with Uralkali coming onboard and having Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher driving for us.
"It’s definitely a case of all change but I’m hoping that we get back to being in the mix for scoring some points at these races.
"It’s been a tough couple of seasons, but we’ve also got our eye on the bigger picture, in particular 2022 and the implementation of the new regulations.”
Team principal Guenther Steiner was also looking forward to a fresh start for the team in 2020.
“We approach a new season with a new title partner and two new drivers," he said. "It’s going to be an exciting year ahead.
"We face a year of learning with the drivers while technically we look ahead to the future," he continued. "First we have to get the guys dialed in at testing.
"Time behind the wheel is short so it’ll be a steep curve, but I’m personally looking forward to seeing their development as drivers and as team members within Uralkali Haas F1 Team.”
The team struggled in 2020 and finished in ninth place in the constructors standings with just three points. But despite limiting development on this year's car in favour of focussing on 2022, Steiner is hoping that they can get more out of the VF-21.
"It’s no secret that the VF-21 will not be developed as we focus our energies now on the 2022 car," he acknowledged. "We all know roughly where we expect to be this season in terms of the competition, but we must ensure we’re there to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves."
Haas also announced that leading German telecommunications provider 1&1 had signed up to become its exclusive telecommunications partner this season.
"1&1 is a challenger in a field as fast-moving as ours," Steiner noted. "[We] share the same entrepreneurial DNA and aspire to race at a higher level daily.
"It's exciting to see how proactive 1&1 is with our partnership, putting the interests of millions of fans at the center of their social media strategy"
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