The anticipation is building towards Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 next year after it announced the signing of drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, however another United States-backed team failed to rise to the promise it initially began with.
Team Haas (USA) Ltd. or Beatrice Haas lasted two seasons and began with plenty of potential after luring former Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion Alan Jones out of retirement, plus enjoying the backing of Beatrice Foods.
Born out of attracting Beatrice Foods sponsorship to his planned Formula 1 World Championship program, CART team owner Carl Haas was able to build a squad to take on the established opponents in the sport’s top level.
Beatrice Foods’ CEO Jim Dutt was instrumental in putting the attack together by providing sponsorship to the CART program initially, before providing enough support to bring Ford onboard as an engine supplier using its newly developed turbocharged V6 engine.
Familiar names including Teddy Mayer, Ross Brawn, Adrian Newey and Neil Oatley formed Formula One Race Car Engineering or FORCE to lead the build and design of the Haas chassis.
Lola is often associated with the team, but the celebrated designer and manufacturer played no part in the project, rather Haas was the official importer of its road cars in the US leading to the association.
Debuting at the Round 12 of the 1981 Formula 1 World Championship at the Italian Grand Prix, the THL1 designed by Oatley didn’t feature the Ford engines agreed to in response to time constraints and the abandoned attempt at developing a four-cylinder turbo.
Instead using HART 1.5-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engines, the Jones’ Haas qualified second last and retired after only six laps in what was a harsh debut.
Retirements came at Brands Hatch and Kyalami (this in protest of South Africa’s apartheid policy), before the first Formula 1 Grand Prix event in Adelaide, Australia.
Jones finally displayed the THL1’s potential after completing the first lap of the new street circuit, he charged from last to sixth in the race before again failing to finish.
Patrick Tambay joined Jones is a twin-Haas attack, but there was no good news on the engine front as Ford was continued to struggle with its DFV replacement and the HART units were installed for the start of the season.
At least Tambay was able to finish a race by placing eighth in Spain, while Jones received the new THL2 in San Marino where he qualified 21st and 10 positions behind his teammate in the older THL1.
Luck failed to turn the team’s fortunes around, with Tambay injured during the warm up before the Canadian Grand Prix as American Eddie Cheever was drafted in as super-sub.
Mario Andretti was offered the drive, who instead suggested son Michael, but difficulty in obtaining a Superlicence led to Cheever receiving the drive.
Both Cheever and Jones failed to finish in France, before Tambay returned to complete the season.
Both entries finished the German Grand Prix and Tambay qualified a best of sixth in Hungary before the pair of drivers scored the first points for the squad in Austria. Jones finished fourth ahead of Tambay.
Jones scored another point at the Italian Grand Prix, but trouble began when a change of leadership at Beatrice Foods led to a smaller sponsorship of the team as 1986 wore on.
Finishing eighth in the Constructors’ Championship after failing to add further points for the rest of the season, the team was broken up after Haas was unable to find a replacement backer for Beatrice Foods.
The Colnbrook factory used by the team was purchased by Bernie Ecclestone to build several racing Alfa Romeos, while team members including Oatley departed for rivals including McLaren and the Ford deal was taken up by Benetton for 1987.
Cadillac will use Ferrari engines when it debuts at next years Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.