| Age | 72 |
| Occupation | Owner |
| Company | Haas F1 Team |
| Country | USA |
| Position Last Year | Down |
Gene Haas is a name that resonates in both the manufacturing world and the high-octane realm of motorsport. Born in 1952 in Youngstown, Ohio, Haas grew up in a hardworking family that valued discipline and determination. Those values became the foundation of his remarkable journey from machinist to motorsport mogul.
Starting as a teenage machinist, Haas developed an eye for precision. In 1983, he founded Haas Automation, setting out to transform the machine tool industry. His vision? Make high-quality CNC machines more affordable and reliable. Today, Haas Automation is the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America, operating from a state-of-the-art, one-million-square-foot facility in California, with customers across the globe.
But Gene Haas didn’t stop at machines. His passion for innovation and speed led to the creation of Windshear, one of the most advanced rolling-road wind tunnels in the world. Used by elite automakers and race teams, Windshear became a cornerstone of cutting-edge aerodynamic testing.
Haas entered the motorsport scene through NASCAR, launching Haas CNC Racing in 2002. A major turning point came in 2009 when he partnered with NASCAR champion Tony Stewart to form Stewart-Haas Racing, a powerhouse that went on to win multiple NASCAR Cup Series championships.
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Driven to compete on a global stage, Haas set his sights on Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport. In 2016, the Haas F1 Team debuted, marking the first American team in F1 since 1986. Operating from bases in North Carolina and the UK, Haas F1 brought American engineering and resourcefulness into a fiercely competitive European-dominated sport.
While the team continues to face the challenges of F1’s steep learning curve, it has earned respect for punching above its weight and for reigniting U.S. interest in the sport.
Gene Haas’ legacy is more than machines or trophies. It’s about pushing boundaries—whether in a machine shop or on a Formula 1 circuit. His story is a perfect blend of American grit and global ambition, embodying the spirit of innovation that drives both industry and motorsport forward.
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