Haas F1 special on NBCSN premiers
Fittingly, it’s the first since another Haas team in 1986, then run by Carl Haas. Meanwhile it’s Gene Haas’ organization that has seen years worth of effort and preparation build for its debut this weekend.
The full release from NBC Sports Group is below:
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Haas F1: America’s Return To The Grid, a one-hour documentary that chronicles the launch and development of Haas F1, the first American-led Formula One team in 30 years, will premiere Wednesday, March 16, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Haas F1: America’s Return To The Grid invites viewers inside the doors of Haas F1, providing behind-the-scenes access to the team, garages and drivers, as they prepare for the upcoming Formula One season and become the first American-led team to officially compete in F1 since 1986.
“The journey Haas F1 is embarking on is something that no other American-led team has attempted in 30 years. Our cameras were there to capture every step of the process and give viewers a sense of all it takes to build a competitive team in a truly international sport," said Ron Wechsler, SVP, Original Programming, NBC Sports Group. “It’s incredibly exciting to once again have an American-led team competing in Formula One, and we hope that providing this level of unprecedented access to Haas F1 will please F1 viewers and help generate new fans to the sport."
Through interviews with crew members and drivers, America’s Return To The Grid explores the magnitude of Haas F1’s endeavor, and highlights the trials and tribulations of building a team, designing Haas F1’s VF-16 racecar, testing, and getting ready for the first race of the season in Melbourne, Australia. America’s Return To The Grid features interviews with Haas F1 team owner and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team co-owner Gene Haas, Haas F1 drivers Esteban Gutierrez and Romain Grosjean, team principal Guenther Steiner, and team manager Dave O’Neill.
Additionally, cameras travel to Haas F1’s European headquarters in Banbury, England, and the world famous Dallara factory in Parma, Italy, as the team chassis were built and the VF-16 engine was fired up for the first time. The documentary culminates as the Haas F1 team travels to The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Barcelona, Spain, to test the car on a race track for the first time.
For a preview of Haas F1: America’s Return To The Grid, click here, or view the above clip.
America’s Return To The Grid complements the debut of NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2016 F1 season, which begins Sunday, March 20 at 12 a.m. ET / Saturday, March 19 at 9 p.m. PT on NBCSN, with the Australian Grand Prix from Melbourne, Australia. In 2016 NBC Sports Group will present live coverage of all 20 F1 races, and more than 200 hours of Formula One programming across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC and NBC Sports Live Extra.
America’s Return To The Grid is the latest F1 project produced by NBC Sports Group’s Original Programming division. Additional projects include Road To Mercedes, and the continuing NBCSN series Off The Grid.
America’s Return To The Grid is produced by Blair Soden, Producer, Original Programming, NBC Sports Group, and Ron Wechsler, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, NBC Sports Group.
Encore presentations of Haas F1: America’s Return To The Grid will air Thursday, March 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, leading up NBCSN’s live coverage of Practice 1 of the Australian Grand Prix, when Haas F1 takes to the circuit for their first official F1 race practice session. In addition, America’s Return To The Grid will air on Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, immediately following NBCSN’s encore presentation of the Australian Grand Prix