It’s the week Haas F1 has been counting down to ever since making their debut at the Australian Grand Prix.
The American team is gearing up for their first race on home soil in Austin, Texas and it will mark a big moment not just for Gene Haas and Gunther Steiner but Formula One as a whole.
The United States has always been the one nut the sport has been unable to crack, two races a year didn’t work, even an event at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway couldn’t maintain the crowds.
There has always been an underlying base of F1 fans in America but in a fight with NASCAR or IndyCar, Bernie Ecclestone’s circus has never got on the same level.
The return in 2012 at a purpose-built facility in Austin has made some gains. F1 is just part of the weekend of festivities all over the city and the fans generate one of the best atmospheres seen at any race weekend all year.
However, maintaining attendance numbers has been as hard for the Circuit of the Americas as it was at Indy. Mexico’s return to the schedule last year also didn’t help but there’s still a feeling that more was needed to finally make F1 big in America.
That is where the Haas team comes in. An operation that made its name in NASCAR branching out into F1 was a blessing for the sport even if it seemed a strange time to join.
Several teams had collapsed and the political gulf between teams was as large as ever. Yet Haas has come in, not got involved in any of the background tit-for-tat, gone about their task of building a team in a very professional manner and have been a very worthy addition to the grid.
Despite resisting the urge to sign an American driver, Haas’ arrival offered the best chance for F1 to be more attractive to fans Stateside by giving them someone to support. Of course, they were never going to be battling at the front right away but it gave the Stars and Stripes a bigger presence in the paddock.
The way they entered, via a technical partnership with Ferrari, caused a stir. Especially when they arrived in Melbourne and Romain Grosjean finish sixth on debut.
The midfield teams were shocked as were fans after seeing Marussia, Caterham and HRT flounder at the back for so long. To see a new team come in and be successful was remarkable.
Questions were raised about just how close Haas and Ferrari were, but by maximising the rules in regards to customer parts, the new outfit has really shown the way in how to make an impact in F1 in 2016.
While they have been unable to maintain those unbelievable early results, as problems maximising development and other issues have hampered progress, this weekend will offer a glimpse into how much of an impact they have made on the sport.
We can still expect Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes memorabilia and flags to be the most prominent sight in the grandstands but we should expect the red, black and white of Haas to feature strongly too.
If that is the case, then, as Haas continues to improve, and following the sale of the sport to American owned Liberty Media who will also surely boost interest as they see the untapped potential, the signs are good for the future of F1 in the US.
