Aiming to continue strengthening and improving their overall performance, the Haas F1 Team has been busy confirming plans for the 2021 Formula One season of late.
The American team founded and led Gene Haas embarked upon a change of strategy recently, signing a new Concorde Agreement which guarantees they will remain part of elite motor racing until 2025.
That agreement includes putting younger drivers in the seats of their cars, receiving improved financial support in return, which is then reinvested in ongoing research and development to improve overall racing performance. This led to the announcement of Mick Schumacher joining an entirely new driver lineup for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.
21-year-old Schumacher has enjoyed an excellent campaign in FIA Formula 2, winning the 2020 championship with the Prema Racing team based in Italy. Now he will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious father, seven-times FIA Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.
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— Formula 1 (@F1) December 2, 2020
Current @FIA_F2 points leader @SchumacherMick will achieve his dream of racing in F1 in 2021 with @HaasF1Team #F1 #RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/dlxW32xc1e
Schumacher senior still holds numerous F1 records, including 77 fastest laps from 306 starts, most consecutive podium finishes with 19, most races with a single constructor (Ferrari) by posting 181 entries and 179 starts, and the most consecutive championships with 5 won between 2005 and 2004.
The record of 7 total F1 championships held by Schumacher senior was only matched in 2020 by Lewis Hamilton, with the British driver consistently dominant in races and the latest F1 odds at every circuit. Hamilton has also managed to surpass various other benchmarks established by the legendary German, including the record the record for total Grand Prix race wins.
Given the hugely successful career of his father, inevitably, there will be high hopes and expectations continually surrounding Schumacher junior during his debut season, as he joins the motor racing elite. Nevertheless, the Haas F1 Team aims to surround their new driver with the best support they can assemble, which includes leading experts in car performance.
After signing @SchumacherMick for the 2021 @F1 season, @HaasF1Team is further strengthening its ties with @ScuderiaFerrari with the addition of chassis engineering head Simone Resta to its technical team! #F1 #FOXSportsF1
— FOX Sports Asia (@FOXSportsAsia) December 5, 2020
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One such expert includes the recruitment of Simone Resta from Ferrari, who was their Head of Chassis Engineering. His wealth of experience dates back to originally joining the Scuderia team in 2001, eventually becoming the Head of Vehicle Project Coordination at Ferrari. Following a brief spell as Technical Director with Sauber, Resta returned to Ferrari in 2018 to oversee the chassis division.
Of course, there are strong and established ties between Ferrari and Haas, who already utilise the same engine and various other car components as their Italian partner. That link also extends to the recruitment of Mick Schumacher, who served his apprenticeship in motor racing as a Ferrari Academy Driver.
Looking ahead to the 2021 F1 season, scheduled to commence with the Australian Grand Prix on 21st March at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, all eyes will undoubtedly be focused on how Mick Schumacher fares. Likewise, the Haas F1 Team will be eager to improve their position in the World Constructor’s Championship, hopeful their drivers can grab some podium finishes throughout the campaign.
