Haas will celebrate their milestone 200th F1 race at the Canadian GP this weekend, with a special livery that pays homage to their inaugural season in the sport.
The Ayao Komatsu-led team, which still remains the newest squad on the F1 grid until the arrival of Cadillac in 2026, has competed in 199 races to date in its 10-year journey.
To commemorate the occasion, Haas have unveiled a striking yet familiar livery design as a nod to the original that was used throughout their debut campaign in 2016. The look that the VF-25 will don during the race weekend in Montreal features a silver, red, and black theme, resembling the VF-16 that Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutiérrez drove a decade ago.
An underdog’s highlights in F1 so far
Haas joined the F1 grid in 2016 and became the first American constructor to score points on debut, as Grosjean crossed the line in sixth place in Melbourne. The Frenchman brought home an even better result in the next race with his impressive fifth-place finish in Bahrain.
The best results that Haas have accomplished as a team arrived in 2018 when Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen took the chequered flag in fourth and fifth positions respectively at the Austrian GP. The Kannapolis-based squad finished their season on a high note, achieving their best-ever placing in the Constructors’ Championship behind Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Renault.
When it comes to one-lap prowess, the American outfit’s major highlight remains Magnussen’s stunning pole position for the Sprint race at Interlagos in 2022. The former F1 driver also secured their highest Grand Prix grid slot of P4 in Miami the following year.
As they gear up to celebrate their 200th F1 race at the Canadian GP this Sunday, Haas currently find themselves seventh in the Constructors’ standings with 26 points under their belt. Meanwhile, their 2025 campaign also features a brand-new driver-up, with Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman intent on bouncing back from their disappointing Sunday in Barcelona.
Komatsu proud of Haas’s new milestone
In his official statement regarding their 200th F1 race, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu reflected on their journey so far, their long-term aspirations, and what their expectations are going into the Canadian GP this weekend.
“Montreal is our 200th race, but it doesn’t feel that long ago that we were celebrating our 100th, but 10 seasons is a long time.
“It’s hard to put into words but it’s a milestone that we should all be so proud of, and we’re still very much on the journey to improve the team, hence it feels like another race.
“When you think about it though, from nothing to 200 races is significant because not many new teams survive more than two seasons, and they disappear without scoring a single point. The fact we’re fighting in the midfield and aren’t satisfied when we’re not scoring points at every race, that’s a good thing.
“Our aim is high, we want to be at the front of the midfield, and there’s so much going on at this team right now.
“For our 200th race, I really hope we can celebrate with points, and we’ll do our best. There’s no better place than to celebrate it in Montreal, it’s such a cool city with an amazing circuit, and the vibe is amazing.”
Komatsu hopeful about Haas scoring points in 200th race
Acknowledging the step forward that the VF-25 has taken in high-speed corners since Imola, Komatsu also emphasised how difficult it is to gauge the precise pecking order every race weekend with teams across the grid introducing new upgrades.
Stating that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve doesn’t cater to the strengths of their car, the Haas team principal nonetheless surmised that the VF-25 should be capable of scoring points in their 200th F1 race in Canada.
“I think the upgrade we brought to Imola has worked because it did improve our high-speed performance, and the car is definitely better.
“The thing is right now, everybody is moving, so it’s difficult to completely judge as you can’t go solely by competitiveness, but with everything we measure ourselves, it is working.
“In Montreal, will we see the full extent of it? Probably not as it hasn’t got high-speed corners, it’s all about straight-line speed, low-speed traction, and chicanes.
“Saying that, I think we could’ve scored points in every race bar Melbourne and Jeddah, and I don’t see Montreal as anything different.”
Bearman looking forward to Haas’s 200th race in Canada
Rookie Ollie Bearman, who has yet to race on this circuit, highlighted the challenges it poses and noted how proud he is to celebrate this historic occasion with the team at the F1 Canadian GP this weekend.
“Canada is a race I’ve been looking forward to since the beginning of the season; there’s always a high chance of rain during the weekend and it’s a unique one as it has lots of chicanes so you’re constantly thinking ahead at this circuit, it takes a lot to put a lap together.
“I’ve not raced around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve before, but when watching the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix where Jenson Button won in crazy conditions, it became a track I always wanted to race on.
“This weekend is also the 200th Grand Prix for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team which is a momentous occasion for everyone. I’m so proud to be driving for this team, there’s a lot of good things happening at the moment, and you can see everyone’s passion and dedication to keep striving for more.”
Ocon keen to make team’s 200th race memorable
Expressing similar opinions regarding the track’s challenging characteristics, Esteban Ocon commented on how delighted they are to celebrate this special milestone in North America as an American team.
The Frenchman also added that Haas will give it their best shot to make their 200th F1 race at the upcoming Canadian GP an unforgettable one.
“It was great to have a couple of days off after the triple-header to rest and regroup. I know the team’s looking forward to getting back out there this weekend in Montreal, a race that I personally really enjoy coming back to.
“The vibe in the city is great, the Canadian fans are always mega, and the track is exciting to drive, with its tricky corner combinations and tight walls in places.
“It’s the team’s 200th Grand Prix this weekend, and it is great to be in North America for it. I’m proud to be part of this moment in the team’s history and hope we can make this weekend one to remember.”
