From VF-16 to VF-20 – which Haas livery is your favourite?
2016: Gene Haas's eponymous outfit unveiled their first car on February 21, 2016. Called the VF-16, the name was an homage to Haas' first CNC machine, the VF-1 - while it also unofficially stood for "Very First One" according to Haas himself.
Powered by a Ferrari engine, the dark grey, light grey and red-toned colour scheme was inspired by Haas Automation's machine tools. Team Principal Guenther Steiner had previously managed Jaguar and worked at Red Bull before joining Haas.
Piloting the VF-16 were Romain Grosjean and Esteban Guttierez, while Charles Leclerc tested for the team. They finished eighth in their debut season with 29 points - all of them from Grosjean - ahead of Renault, Sauber and Manor.
2017: For their second season, Haas swapped the white for some more shades of grey, while the VF-17 also sported a distinctive red nose. On the driver front, Gutierrez made way for former McLaren and Renault racer Kevin Magnussen.
2017 would, however, prove to be a tough season for the team amidst heavy regulation changes. They finished eighth in the championship with 47 points, Grosjean having scored 28 of them.
The red nose didn't stay long on the VF-17, however. At the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix, it was swapped out for a white one with red being reserved only for striping. The drivers' names and numbers were made larger to help fans identify who was at the wheel.
The reasoning for the livery change being introduced at Monaco? “It’s a styling upgrade for a locale where upgraded style is a way of life,” read Haas' statement.
2018: First to reveal their new livery, Haas brought back white for the 2018 VF-18, which featured the new halo, and lost the sharkfin cover and T-wing in accordance to the new regulations.
Similar to their first car, the VF-18 once again retained the prominent red and black of the parent company's corporate colours. It may have looked similar, but the car's pace was far more impressive than the VF-16's.
In 2018, Haas had their most successful season yet, finishing the championship fifth with 93 points, which was more than their previous two seasons put together.
2019: This was a drastic change in livery for Haas as the VF-19 was unveiled in black and gold at London's Royal Automobile Club on February 7, 2019. The radical new scheme was all down to new title sponsor Rich Energy.
The new design was reminiscent of the famous black and gold John Player Special livery run by Lotus in the '70s and '80s. "I’m naturally delighted to finally see the Rich Energy colors and stag logo in Formula 1 with Haas F1 Team," said Rich Energy CEO William Storey at the London launch.
It wasn't the easiest of years for Haas, who struggled for pace and consistency all season. They would end the season with 28 points - their lowest haul ever - and finish ninth in the championship.
The VF-19 also lost its Rich Energy logo from the Singapore GP onwards after the team parted company with its main sponsor mid-season, though the black and gold colour scheme remained.
2020: The VF-20 goes back to traditional Haas colours: grey, white and red. The number on the front of the car is prominent, with an added red chevron, and red accents on the front wing. "I’m pleased to see the car return to the more familiar Haas Automation colours, it’s certainly a livery that people identify with," said Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation and chairman of Haas F1 Team.
The greyscale American flag remains, while a couple of other sponsors adorn the car. Gold is gone, and the VF-20 resembles the VF-16 more than any other Haas F1 challenger. Where will they end up this season?
Haas have become the first team to unveil their 2020 F1 livery after they revealed the VF-20's new look. Before the car hits the track for pre-season testing in Barcelona next week, here's how the American outfit's colour schemes have evolved, from their first car in 2016 to this year's challenger.
Last season was the most difficult yet for the newest team on the grid as they struggled with an inconsistent car and lost their title sponsor mid-season. Will they be back on track this year?
READ MORE: We trust we've learned our lessons, says Gene Haas after 2020 launch
Think you know your car launches? Take our tricky quiz to find out. And have a look at the calendar to find out when the rest of the 2020 cars will be launched.
Next Up
Related Articles
.webp)
UnlockedHow the faster Hadjar helped Verstappen to second place in Baku
Colapinto apologises for Alpine team crash in Azerbaijan GP
The 2026 Qualifying and race head-to-heads so far
What the teams said – Race day in Azerbaijan 
BettingRed Bull's Baku brilliance gives Verstappen fresh hope
Who impressed our Power Rankings judges in Azerbaijan?