As of April 11th, the newly formed Haas Formula has been given the green light by the FIA to compete in the 2015 Formula 1 season by receiving their constructor’s license. After already running a successful NASCAR team that captured the driver’s championship in 2011, Founder Gene Haas looks to enter the open wheel world with a dedicated team that is aiming to bring American interest into Formula 1. 

Based out of North Carolina, Haas Formula has signed on Gunther Steiner as team principle, formerly of Jaguar Racing back in 2002 under the leadership of Niki Lauda and more recently, as the technical director of Red Bull Racing alongside Christian Horner. Haas has also reached an agreement with Italian chassis builder Dallara to construct the car for the 2015 season.

Does any of this sound familiar? Surely, the USF1 team led by Ken Anderson and former Ferrari director Peter Windsor rings a bell. On June 12, 2009, the failed outlet from Charlotte received their license from the FIA to compete in the 2010 Formula 1 season. After a winter of missed deadlines, strange proposals to the FIA, and an eventual withdrawal from investors, USF1 finally collapsed before it could ever really begin. The USF1 downfall and eventual dismantle, left fans doubting a return to a United States based Formula One operation. 

Alas, this new American operation should bring a little bit of American back into Formula One with renewed hopes and interests. Haas promises that the team will not be “throwing money at it” and they intend to keep costs as ‘reasonable’ as possible. Along with this, Haas has also stated that it intends to work very closely with an engine supplier for the technical data and knowledge on the power unit provided.

However, numerous challenges will still lie ahead. Not only does the team have to secure an engine supplier, but they also must have drivers to compete for them along with millions of dollars of sponsorship and logistics planning to make the trip from race to race, all while operating on a continent that sees no more than three races a year starting in 2015. 

The challenge is immense but Haas is standing firm against the criticism. The groundwork is being laid out for his brand new team and meetings are being set up with engine suppliers. The United States has never had the best of luck when it comes to Formula One and fan viewership, but maybe a familiar face is all that is needed to boost interest in the world’s most powerful motorsport.