Haas reveals F1 "commitment" – signs tech staff, designs wind tunnel model

He will be the team's new chief aerodynamicist.

Agathangelou is joined by joined Dave O'Neill as team manager, and Rob Taylor as chief designer, as the American operating continues with its plans to join the F1 grid in 2016.

O'Neill, who worked as a team manager for the Jordan team from 1998 through 2005, arrives at Haas from Marussia, having joined the team when it was Manor back in 2009, before it entered F1.

Taylor also joins Haas from Marussia, where he was the deputy chief designer. He had previously worked with McLaren, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Jaguar in F1.

Haas said Agathangelou and Taylor have already designed a 60 per cent scale model of the Ferrari-powered car Haas will use during the 2016 season.

"While there is still a lot of work to do, a lot has already been accomplished for Haas F1 Team to be competitive when we join the F1 grid in 2016," said team principal Gunther Steiner.

"Our technical partnership with Ferrari has allowed us to develop our car and our people at an exceptional pace. The way we're going about our F1 team is new and different, but it's working.

"We're committed to our plan, we're committed to F1 and, most importantly, we're on schedule. This time next year, our cars will have already been tested and we'll be readying them for Melbourne."

Haas said its preparations to join the grid are on schedule.

"Construction of the team's equipment, from transporters to the pit apparatus to garage set-up, is well underway. Upon completion, all will be housed at Haas F1 Team's Banbury location," said the team in a statement.