Technical director Andrea De Zordo talks about the challenges of working on two programs at the same time, the key milestones in the creation of the Formula 1 car and how development will decide the title in 2026.
Haas presented the car for this year today. Technical director Andrea De Zordo talked about its development for the team’s website
Work on the VF-26 began a long time ago, but how do you manage two programs at once and how do you divide the team?
“It actually started already in the second half of 2024 with a small group exploring the concept of a new car. It stayed with that group until the introduction of the VF-25. From then on, the share of resources shifted towards the 2026 program, with a full switchover after the summer break last season. The small group was still working on the VF-25 until a fairly late stage due to the tight championship fight, which was difficult to manage. It was about determining top priorities for both 2025 and 2026 without losing too much time to the detriment of what we knew would be a crucial season.”
What are the biggest changes to the cars for 2026?
“I think the most obvious changes will be the different-looking front and rear wings, the addition of an aero plate on the side of the car in front of the floor that wasn’t there before, and the fact that the cars will be a bit smaller. Once on track, fans will see that both the front and rear wings are now movable. But it will be different to previous years – they won’t just open and close in DRS zones on the straights, but whenever the driver chooses. According to in my opinion, the biggest change is not visible: it’s a different ratio of power distribution in the power unit between the combustion engine and the electric part. It’s a monumental change that will affect the way we race.”
Photo: Haas
Can you list the key milestones leading up to the first joint tests in Barcelona?
“The process was a marathon, and when we think we’re at the end, I suspect it’s only just the beginning. The first milestone was the mock-up chassis test and the homologation of the real chassis. We had to work quickly and of course we were worried that if we had to fix anything, it would mean a huge amount of extra work. Fortunately, everything turned out well, which I consider the first milestone.
Another big moment was the homologation of the front wing, defining its mechanism and laboratory tests that confirmed our assumptions. When we first sat down in the simulator to see where the lap times would come from next year, we knew it was going to be quite different. It was the first assessment of what we were doing and to verify that we understood how to proceed. Well, and finally the initial start of the engine.’
Given the enormous task ahead, what achievements of the design office would you like to highlight?
“There are many, but now I’m focused on 2026 and I won’t look back! What I’m very impressed with is the work ethic and determination of this group. They work very hard, long days – often late into the night – and they don’t do it because I tell them to, but because they want to. They’re all deeply invested in the project, which is a great sign of maturity and team spirit. I hope and trust that they’re all on this a proud result.”
Do you have any early guesses or predictions for the upcoming season?
“It’s definitely not just about finishing the race, because we’re not just here to take part, but to challenge others. We’ve put so much work into it because we want to build the best possible car and be as competitive as possible. We’ll try to develop parts for the first race. There are too many unknowns to guess who will be where. It’s very unpredictable, but we’ll start to find out a lot over the next month.”
With the teams still interpreting the rules, how do you think these cars will develop over the course of the season? Where do you expect the biggest gains in development?
“That’s a good question. It’s hard to predict before the first race and we’re always interested to see if someone has come up with something new. This year it’s especially relevant because literally everything is new, including the power unit. There will be a lot of work initially on both the aerodynamics and the power unit, and I expect rapid evolution in both areas – I can’t say what specifically.”
Do you think that with the new regulations more emphasis will be placed on the development of aerodynamics, or will the center of gravity be more technical in the area of the power unit and battery?
“The new regulations will definitely change the balance between aerodynamics and energy management. Initially with powertrains – because it’s all new – there’s not necessarily more to gain, but a lot more to lose if you don’t get it right. Understanding how it works and how to maximize it will probably be the most important part.
Over time, as drivers, teams and engine suppliers learn to work with this new way of racing, energy performance will gradually level out between competitors. Aerodynamics will then become the main differentiator again, but I think initially mastering the energy side will be absolutely key this year.”
Source: TGR Haas F1 Team
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