Haas’ best off-track moments 10 years on from their 2016 F1 debut

For a team that arrived in the Formula 1 paddock in 2016 with little more than enthusiasm, a comparatively sparce budget and American flair, Haas have spent the last decade proving that even the smaller teams on the grid are forces to be reckoned with.

Of course, there have been plenty of memorable moments on track, including impressive top-six finishes and a stunning pole position, but Haas have also carved out a reputation for something else entirely – being one of the most entertaining teams in the paddock off-track.

From viral Netflix moments and unlikely duos, to wholesome family scenes and groundbreaking milestones, the team’s first 10 years in the sport have produced several off-track highlights. As Haas celebrates a decade in F1, here are some of the moments that made fans fall in love with the American constructor.

Drive to Survive legends

When Drive to Survive first arrived on Netflix in 2019, it opened the doors of the paddock to an entirely new audience. Few teams captured the audience quite like Haas, as their more unfiltered approach and underdog attitude quickly proved popular.

At the centre of many of the most iconic scenes was ex-Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner. The Italian’s debriefs, reactions and even general paddock conversations were authentic and unapologetic, and fans couldn’t get enough of this insight into life at the American team.

One early moment that quickly became legend was after the 2019 British Grand Prix, when Kevin Magnussen collided with team mate Romain Grosjean. As Steiner vented his frustration, he delivered the now infamous line: “He does not **** smash my door,” after the Dane had angrily stormed out of Steiner’s office. This Drive to Survive clip quickly circulated online and remains one of the show’s most quoted moments.

Drive to Survive also covered Haas’ struggles with sponsors, their driver line-up switches and their battle to compete with high-budget outfits, with the team gaining a cult following thanks to the popular episodes. Although Steiner has now left, many fans are with the Haas team for the long run.

Haasbands

Not all team mate pairings start off as besties, and this was certainly the case for the Haas duo of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg when they were brought together in 2023. In fact, the pair were better known for their animosity towards one another after a 2017 media pen verbal bust-up following an on-track scuffle at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

However, they pretty quickly put aside their differences and developed one of the best bonds on the grid over their two seasons together. Speaking after their first winter as team mates, Hulkenberg explained: “It’s actually been pretty good, we’ve been hanging out over the winter in the UK, doing some marketing and media stuff and yeah, so far so good. I feel no tension or friction between us. He's a dad too so we are both in similar positions in our life”

Their ever-growing rapport quickly became visible during interviews, media appearances and team content. Fans began referring to them as the “Haasbands”, capturing their humour in a nutshell.

But we couldn’t bring up the Dane without mentioning one of Haas’ best highlights in their entire decade in the sport – his Sao Paulo Grand Prix pole position in 2022. In tricky wet-dry conditions, Magnussen set a strong soft tyre run first to top the time sheets ahead of a red flag and further downpours. His time stayed at the top – and the celebrations were every bit as special as you’d imagine!

Schumacher’s return

It was a huge moment for the sport when Mick Schumacher arrived in F1 with Haas in 2021 – it carried significance far beyond a rookie debut. For the first time since 2012, the Schumacher name was back on the grid.

As the son of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, Mick’s arrival inevitably drew a lot of attention from across the paddock and media. His father’s influence on the sport had shaped an entire generation of drivers, including Sebastian Vettel, who had grown up idolising the legendary German and later became a close family friend.

That history created something of a full-circle moment once Mick reached F1. Vettel naturally stepped into the role of mentor and ally for the young driver, often spending time with him during race weekends and offering guidance as he navigated the early stages of his career.

Their friendship became a refreshingly familiar sight in the paddock. Whether talking during drivers’ parades, sharing conversations between sessions or appearing together during media duties, the two Germans often looked more like team mates than rivals.

The man who walked out of the fire

Few moments in modern F1 have been as dramatic as Romain Grosjean’s horror crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. After contact at the start of the race, his Haas car speared into the barriers and burst into flames, splitting the chassis in two.

For several seconds the scene was almost impossible to comprehend, until Grosjean climbed out of the fire and over the barriers with the help of the marshals. The images from that evening easily became some of the most powerful in the sport’s recent history.

In the months that followed, Grosjean focused on his recovery and began the next chapter of his career in American open-wheel racing. His connection to Haas, however, remained strong long after his F1 departure.

Five years later, the team arranged a private test that allowed Grosjean to drive an F1 car once again and wear the meaningful helmet he was set to wear at the 2020 season finale in Abu Dhabi. It's safe to say there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, and Grosjean was able to close his F1 chapter on his own terms and on a high!

Bearcon

Haas’ current partnership features 20-year-old Briton Ollie Bearman and 29-year-old Frenchman Esteban Ocon – with the pair quickly becoming a solid duo on- and off-track. Media days are always fun with the Haas pair, and they clearly get along well during their social media duties. Here’s to another season of Bearcon!

A family affair in Mexico

Bearman’s family have been a welcome addition to the Haas family ever since the Briton’s arrival at Haas. You can tell how much the 20-year-old's success means to his father, David, having seen his passionate celebrations in the garage and his wholesome radio messages. Who could forget the emotions after Bearman’s P4 in Mexico?

Laura Mueller making history

While many of Haas’ biggest off-track moments over the past decade have arisen from the team’s personality, they have also played a role in breaking new ground within the sport. In 2025, Laura Mueller made history when she became Esteban Ocon’s race engineer – and is the first woman to hold the position full-time in F1.

Unsurprisingly, race engineers are among the most influential figures in a team’s performance, often making critical strategy and setup decisions across a race weekend. It wasn’t long before Mueller quickly proved that she was one of the best in the business, as she helped to guide Ocon to several impressive results during the season, including a P5 in the second race of the season in China.

Of course, it makes sense that her impact has been recognised beyond the team as well. Ahead of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, Laura Mueller and Red Bull’s Head of Race Strategy Hannah Schmitz became the first women to have an F1 circuit corner named after them. Turn 6 at the Albert Park Circuit was dedicated to them in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Upon receiving the honour, Mueller commented, “To be a part of this acknowledgement so early on in my Formula 1 career is an honour, and I hope it motivates girls and young adults to pursue a career in STEM. It’s important to recognise women’s accomplishments in motorsport so far, and it’s great to be alongside Hannah for this.”

Lovely Liveries

Over the years Haas have also produced a host of memorable special liveries, particularly over their home Grand Prix weekends in Austin. These designs often leaned into the team’s American heritage while keeping the bold black-and-white base colours that have become part of their visual signature.

Some standouts include the 2022 and 2025 COTA liveries and matching race suits donned with stars and stripes – both easily becoming fan favourites. But their special looks weren’t just reserved for home races, as one of their most striking designs came in Japan in 2025. Inspired by the gorgeous cherry blossom season in Japan during the spring, this will certainly be a hard one to top!