The VF-16 name derives from the first CNC machine manufactured by Haas Automation, the VF-1, launched in 1988. The "V" stands for vertical, an industry-standard designation for a vertical mill. Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, added "F1" to designate the car as the company's "Very First One." As chairman of Haas F1 Team, the "F1" moniker took on new significance as Haas joined the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship, becoming the first American-led Formula One team in 30 years. The dark gray, light gray, and red-toned livery of the VF-16 was derived from the scheme of Haas Automation's complete line of machining centers, turning centers, and rotary tables and indexers.
Dallara was contracted to design the VF-16 in December 2014, shortly after Haas' entry was accepted to the grid. Gene Haas structured the team as a client of Scuderia Ferrari, and as a result, the VF-16 shares several elements with Ferrari's 2016 entry, the SF16-H, including the gearbox and suspension. Team principal Guenther Steiner stated that the methodology behind the VF-16 was to make it the best evolution of a good F1 car, looking at what successful teams were doing for a baseline. Ferrari's power unit defined the rear end of the car and its required size. The goal for the car was to score points.
The VF-16 was unveiled at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya ahead of pre-season testing. Its early testing phase was overshadowed by a front wing failure, fuel feed problems, and complications surrounding a turbo failure. The car tested at Barcelona from February 22-25 and again from March 1-4 before its debut race.
The VF-16 made its competitive debut at the Australian Grand Prix, where Romain Grosjean collided with Rio Haryanto in pit lane during practice. Both Grosjean and Esteban Gutiérrez were eliminated early in qualifying, occupying the penultimate row of the grid. During the race, Grosjean ran as high as tenth when Gutiérrez collided with Fernando Alonso, causing Alonso's McLaren to roll over and prompting a temporary race stoppage. The team took advantage of the stoppage to switch Grosjean's strategy to the most durable tire compound, and he finished sixth, scoring eight World Championship points. This made Haas the first start-up team to score points on their debut since Toyota in 2002.
At the next round in the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix, Grosjean qualified ninth and finished fifth. Gutiérrez qualified thirteenth but retired with brake problems. Grosjean also scored points at the 2016 Russian Grand Prix, 2016 Austrian Grand Prix, and 2016 United States Grand Prix, while Gutiérrez's best finish across the season was eleventh. Gutiérrez was not retained for 2017 and was replaced by Kevin Magnussen.
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