Paris - US-based Haas Formula 1 team became the first world championship outfit to reveal pictures of their 2018 car on Wednesday featuring the controversial new halo head-protection device.
Blending in
However, the visual effect of the halo, which will be mandatory on the front of every car this season, has been softened by Haas designers with black and red paint work on the chassis.
Guenther Steiner, team principal said: "The biggest part of the car's evolution was the addition of the halo."
"It took quite a bit of study by the aerodynamicists, but the designers had to work hard to modify the chassis so the halo could survive the mandated loads.
"The total minimum weight of the car increased because of the halo, and there's a higher centre of gravity simply because of the halo's position. But, everyone is in the same boat."
Haas scored 47 points in the 2017 championship to finish in eighth spot, 18 more than their debut season in 2016.
The Ferrari-powered team will have Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen behind the wheel for the 2018 season which starts in Australia on March 25.
