Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2024 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
      • 2024 Formula 2 Race Calendar
      • 2024 Formula 2 Driver Line-up
    • Formula 3
      • 2024 Formula 3 Race Calendar
      • 2024 Formula 3 Driver Line-up
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2024 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
      • 2024 Formula 2 Race Calendar
      • 2024 Formula 2 Driver Line-up
    • Formula 3
      • 2024 Formula 3 Race Calendar
      • 2024 Formula 3 Driver Line-up
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Komatsu: Haas ‘excited’ by challenge of reversing F1 fortunes

by Dan Lawrence
1 year ago
A A
0
Magnussen ‘sounded alarm bells’ early over repeat Haas slump

Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas F1 Team with Mark Slade (GBR) Haas F1 Team Race Engineer and Ayao Komatsu (JPN) Haas F1 Team Race Engineer on the grid. 26.11.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 23, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, Race Day.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Haas expects to remain towards the back of the Formula 1 grid “out of the gates”, but Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is “excited” about improving throughout 2024.

After a steady start to F1’s ground effect regulations that saw the team climb to eighth in the Constructors’ standings, Haas slipped back to the foot of the table in 2023.

The American outfit was hampered by dire tyre management throughout the season and an initial inwash car concept that had reached a development ceiling.

Komatsu, who has replaced Guenther Steiner at the helm, is braced for Haas to begin the upcoming campaign as the slowest team in the field with its VF-24 charger.

RelatedPosts

Kimi Antonelli has banished his FP1 debut mistake at Monza through his first full GP weekends

Kimi Antonelli has ‘erased’ Monza debut mistake in opening F1 weekends

33 minutes ago
Alex Albon credited Carlos Sainz with bringing 'a different atmosphere' to Williams

Alex Albon reveals initial impact Carlos Sainz has had at Williams

2 hours ago

But he believes that starting from the back of the grid in Bahrain is a positive, and one shared by managers in both the team’s United Kingdom and Italian bases.

“They’re excited because it’s an opportunity to improve and there are areas of improvement everywhere,” he said.

“The focus is to have a good test program for Bahrain so that we come away from the test having quality data for the team to analyze and understand which direction to develop the car.

“Drivers will play a stronger role too. Last year, in terms of subjective feedback from drivers, their understanding of what the weakness of the car was clear, however, we weren’t then able to reflect that in our car development program.

“With the changes we made in the team, we aim to address this issue with our drivers more in the loop of development paths so that nothing gets lost.”

Haas F1 Team logo. 22.02.2023. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Preparations

 

Given his January appointment and the structural changes Komatsu has made since then – which include promoting Andrea De Zordo to Technical Director and promoting former Head of Vehicle Performance Group Damien Brayshaw to the newly created role of Performance Director – one could be forgiven for thinking the true impact of these changes will be felt in 2025.

However, Komatsu remains convinced the organisation now is in a better place to commit to a clear upgrade plan that will benefit the VF-24.

“One of the things that we changed was how we shape the organizational structure so that as a team we work as one to understand the car and how to improve it,” he said.

“I’d like to think the very first thing we’ll see from the impact of this change will be the upgrade on the car.

“If you look at the organizational structure previously, there isn’t a clear path to close the loop on that side.

“Everything that’s found trackside, there’s now a closed loop going into the aero, wind tunnel and CFD departments.

“Now, at least even if there’s a disagreement, everyone is clear about why we’re developing the car in a certain way.”

Komatsu claims the lack of this structure in year’s gone by is why upgrades have failed to lift the team’s performance and led to sliding down the pecking order as races tick by.

“We’re now already working in that way and there’s much better transparency, openness, and communication,” he clarified.

“Therefore, I believe we have a much better chance of upgrading the car properly this year.”

Tags: F1HaasKomatsu
Share198Tweet124Share

Related Posts

Kimi Antonelli has banished his FP1 debut mistake at Monza through his first full GP weekends
Formula 1

Kimi Antonelli has ‘erased’ Monza debut mistake in opening F1 weekends

33 minutes ago
Alex Albon credited Carlos Sainz with bringing 'a different atmosphere' to Williams
Formula 1

Alex Albon reveals initial impact Carlos Sainz has had at Williams

2 hours ago
Lando Norris has admitted McLaren's MCL39 car doesn't suit his driving style
Formula 1

Why Lando Norris has learnt to ‘accept’ McLaren F1 car won’t suit his driving style

3 hours ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
2Chinese GP21-23 March
3Japanese GP04-06 April
4Bahrain GP11-13 April
5Saudi Arabian GP18-20 April
6Miami GP02-04 May

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
1Lando Norris25
5Max Verstappen18
7George Russell15
8Andrea Kimi Antonelli12
18Alexander Albon10
10Lance Stroll8
19Nico Hulkenberg6
3Charles Leclerc4
2Oscar Piastri2
4Lewis Hamilton1

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Kimi Antonelli has banished his FP1 debut mistake at Monza through his first full GP weekends
Formula 1

Kimi Antonelli has ‘erased’ Monza debut mistake in opening F1 weekends

March 21, 2025
Alex Albon credited Carlos Sainz with bringing 'a different atmosphere' to Williams
Formula 1

Alex Albon reveals initial impact Carlos Sainz has had at Williams

March 21, 2025
Lando Norris has admitted McLaren's MCL39 car doesn't suit his driving style
Formula 1

Why Lando Norris has learnt to ‘accept’ McLaren F1 car won’t suit his driving style

March 21, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd