There's revolution in the air at Haas coming into 2024 and F1's newest team boss, Ayao Komatsu, is eager to sweep out the old...
It’s the beginning of a new chapter for Haas in 2024, with Ayao Komatsu replacing Guenther Steiner as team boss.
Having worked in F1 for 20 years – Komatsu has had stints with BAR, Renault before moving to Haas – the move from being a cog in the machinery of a team to becoming the driving force is a daunting one, regardless of experience. Having never spoken to each other before, I had no idea what to expect as we began our chat, where the obvious opener was to ask how he’s found his first few weeks as an F1 team boss.“I still don’t know what I don’t know, right? But, in terms of what we need to do to the team to improve, I had some ideas. So, in that aspect, I’m just getting on with it.”
Slumping to the back wasn’t part of the game plan, and the ousted Steiner has been more opinionated about the racing model the Haas team has utilised over the years. “So then, 2020, COVID hit, and ’21 was just recovering from COVID. ’22 was the first year we had the chance to move back up again, and then in ’23, it was basically a repeat of ’19. So I just feel we haven’t recovered fundamentally from ’19. But that’s what we’re doing now.”
“There’s no point in keeping comparing myself to my predecessor, because there’s nothing to be gained. We are very different human beings. He tried his best – he had his approach. I’m gonna try my best, in a way that I think is the best and see where it goes.” “Honestly, I’ve been very, very grateful that everyone’s reaction is overwhelmingly supportive,” Komatsu replies.
Would that acceptance of Steiner’s sudden replacement have been as straightforward if Haas had gone for an unknown external hire, rather than internally promoting someone already well-embedded in the team?“That’s why he asked me to do it, I guess. Our setup is very unique, as you know. “So I’ve made fundamental changes. But I would say like the minimum big changes, but that’s something I really had to make, I believe I had to make. But that was fundamental to how we’re going to work together going forward.
“I already had an idea. But I didn’t want to tell those guys, only because I wanted to talk to those people first, internal communication first. I never want our guys to find out things from outside. With an FIA agreement reached late last year to allow the teams a capital expenditure budget to allow for facility and infrastructure investment, this means that – provided the funding is there – teams will be permitted to invest back into their factories without it coming out of the operational spend.
“So far, what I’m seeing backs up what I expected. Brilliant, very enjoyable. You asked me about the response from the people. These are the things really making this new challenge enjoyable. Working with Andrea, as an example, it’s been nothing but a pleasure.”F1 team principals’ rich list: Net worth figures revealed for Wolff, Horner and more
Rather than pointing to results or lap time, as I expected an engineer to focus on, Komatsu instead offered an answer that hints at why he may well end up instigating genuine change at Haas.
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