Haas F1 team's first car passes FIA crash tests ahead of testing

The American team, which has entered into a partnership with Ferrari enabling it to obtain non-listed parts and an engine from the Italian manufacturer, becomes the 11th team on the F1 grid this season.

Team owner Gene Haas recently said the decision to defer its entry until 2016 had effectively given the new squad "too much time" to prepare for its debut, and it has passed the FIA crash tests with more than one month to go until testing starts.

"Passed FIA crash tests. Next up testing," the team posted on its Twitter account.

Team principal Gunther Steiner told Autosport late last year that the decision to start the season earlier - moving the Australian Grand Prix from April 3 to March 20 - had given Haas an extra challenge.

"It hasn't made things easier," said Steiner. "But we're not getting worried.

"It's the same for everyone. It happened and you need to deal with it.

"Does it make it cheaper? No, but this is what we are dealing with.

"The project is on track and we're confident we'll have the car ready for testing."