Haas Formula 1 team on schedule for first 2016 pre-season test

The F1 newcomer has a technical partnership and engine supply deal with Ferrari, while Dallara is responsible for its chassis.

"At this point, we're good," team principal Gunther Steiner told AUTOSPORT regarding preparations for the 2016 challenger.

"There are a few things a bit delayed.

"But when the calendar was changed, with the first race moving back into April, we could put a week extra on here or a week there.

"The factory in Banbury should be finished in four weeks and the machine pattern work for chassis will be done in the next two weeks.

"The schedule is very tight, but it's the same for everybody.

"Ferrari does not sign off its car off before March and we go with their schedule.

"In the end, we will get to the first test."

Haas has the benefit of having a close technical partnership with an established team in Ferrari as well as a year to prepare without having to focus on racing.

The second season will be more challenging as the team has to develop a car while concurrently working on the next design, which for 2017 will be radically different.

Steiner said: "We've working on the plan for 2017 for two months. Next year looks positive but 2017 is a big challenge.

"Normally the second year is the hardest year, but the challenge in 2017 is bigger than normal so we need to have a good plan."

Team owner Gene Haas added that he believed his experience in NASCAR will help the team evolve into one that can become more self-sufficient.

"We have a lot of resources to help build our car and as time goes on, we'll learn more and more," he said.

"The more we learn, the more we can do on our own.

"The cars are like anything else, they are like a complex algorithm that you have to solve and I think we're pretty good at solving them."

A Ferrari reserve driver will take one of the new team's seats, while Haas is aiming to give the other to a current F1 driver. A decision is expected this month.