Tag: Ayao Komatsu

Haas expansion crucial for avoiding staff ‘breakdown’ – Komatsu

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu says it’s imperative the team continues to grow to ensure the existing workforce is not pushed to breaking point. Recent additions to the team have increased the size of Haas to around 330 employees, but due to the …

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu says it’s imperative the team continues to grow to ensure the existing workforce is not pushed to breaking point.

Recent additions to the team have increased the size of Haas to around 330 employees, but due to the number of parts it purchases from external suppliers, that is still deemed to be comfortably the lowest total on the grid. As a comparison, Williams lists its total number of personnel as over 1000, and while Komatsu is proud of the work ethic at Haas he says he doesn’t believe it is operating on a level playing field against its rivals.

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“I don’t think so, because look at the numbers – 330 people, it’s nowhere,” Komatsu said. “What is amazing about this team is we’re asking a lot from everyone. People are doing one or two or three jobs. The TPC … it was so smooth, no issues, everything on time, like we’ve been doing it for five years. But that’s only because people go the extra mile, being proactive and thinking ahead.

“But I feel bad, I can’t rely on that as a baseline, that’s not sustainable. We cannot drive people to a breakdown. We have to increase the resource capability so we can achieve those things without feeling like you’re going to collapse. Every time we try to improve, the minute you think I’m stabilized, we’re doing more, we’re making improvements. It’s challenging for everyone.

“Yes people are motivated because all those things (recruitment and budget) are positive, they can see the team moving forward – that’s why they go the extra mile. But at the same time, we as top management, need to make sure we provide an environment and resource which is sustainable.

“Still so many things we need to do. We finished P7 – we talked about this year’s target. Yes, the target is P6, but we haven’t achieved that consistent result, so even fighting for P6, P7, fighting for the same position that would be a huge achievement.”

Komatsu says Haas will be at the limit of the budget cap this season in a development that means team owner Gene Haas doesn’t have to put in his own money, and the team principal believes his boss fully appreciates what the team is achieving.

“Gene was very happy at the end of last season. Honestly, I thought he’d be unhappy that we couldn’t get P6, but (in Abu Dhabi) I finished the race and then said thank you to the guys, and by the time I walked out of the back of the garage, I already had a message from Gene congratulating us.

“So that was a that was very nice to hear. So I called him and straight away he just said ‘Many congratulations, it’s an amazing achievement’, which honestly you don’t get often from Gene at all!

“So I was pleasantly really surprised and grateful about his comments. But of course, he’s very competitive. You know, he wants more, of course. So, yes, he’s sitting there, always pushing me to set an ambitious target, but my job is really trying to set a realistic target.”

Gene Haas won’t need to fund F1 team in 2025

Haas owner Gene Haas does not have to subsidize his Formula 1 team for the first time this year as it hits the budget cap, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu. The American team joined the grid in 2016 and is about to enter its tenth season, …

Haas owner Gene Haas does not have to subsidize his Formula 1 team for the first time this year as it hits the budget cap, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu.

The American team joined the grid in 2016 and is about to enter its tenth season, coming off the back of a strong 2024 when it finished seventh in the constructors’ championship. Komatsu says the commercial gains that have been made in recent years have finally put the team in a position where it is able to operate at the budget cap without its owner’s funding.

“This year is the first time that as a company, Gene doesn’t have to put his own money in,” Komatsu said. “We haven’t been hitting the budget cap, we are hitting it this year. So we have a different challenge of making sure we stay within the budget cap.

“It’s great that we finally got here, but in terms of mindset, it’s the same thing – like trackside engineering, we really had to change the mindset of everyone, what is acceptable and what we have to strive for.

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“It’s the same with this budget thing. Before, if we were under the budget cap, if we had money, we could spend it without worrying about it. Now we have to make sure we stay within the budget cap. So it’s a whole different mindset. But if you want to be competitive, that’s minimum where you should be.

“So, finally, it feels like we’re ticking many boxes – start doing TPC, be on the budget cap and being profitable. With the prize money from last year, sponsorship money etc, this year, Gene shouldn’t have to put his money in. It’s the first time.”

As the smallest team on the grid with roughly 330 personnel, Komatsu acknowledges there must be areas Haas is comfortably outspending rivals given its lower wage bill – such as through outsourcing of parts and car build – but for now those represent the best structure for the team in its current guise.

“Some of it is obvious, right? Maranello and also the external manufacturing, etc. But we made some improvement last year. We are making more improvements this year, so we’ve got to be more efficient.

“All those notional values (are set). But at the moment, let’s say for the foreseeable future – when I say foreseeable future, like next few years at least – even with the notional value deficiency, with the capabilities and resource we have got, that’s the best way to go.

“It’s much better to pay for that extra money deducted from the budget cap limit and buy components from Ferrari. That side of the model, I don’t think it’s an issue at all, whereas there’s some other part of the business that’s inefficient, both in terms of time and then cost. So we’re looking at that.”

Komatsu promises Haas driver news coming ‘soon’

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu says there will be news about the future driver line-up “soon,” with two vacancies still to be filled for 2025. The driver market has slowed down in recent months, with Nico Hulkenberg’s future move from Haas to …

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu says there will be news about the future driver line-up “soon,” with two vacancies still to be filled for 2025.

The driver market has slowed down in recent months, with Nico Hulkenberg’s future move from Haas to Stake the last change announced in Miami. Since then there’s been the confirmation of Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll all staying with their current teams, but with Hulkenberg to replace and Kevin Magnussen out of contract, Komatsu says Haas will finalize at least one of those seats in the near future.

“The decision is not made over one race,” Komatsu told SiriusXM about Magnussen’s future. “It’s made over the course of the season, or what he has been doing for us for the last two and a half seasons, or even more.

“Of course there’s no complaints [in Austria]; his race was amazing. His sprint race was amazing, his qualifying was strong, and then the race was great. It’s a great result for Kevin as well as the team.”

With Oliver Bearman carrying out plenty of FP1 running for Haas and a heavy favorite for a drive in 2025, Magnussen is facing competition from the likes of Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas for his place. Pushed on when one of the seats will be announced, Komatsu added: “You will find out soon!”

Magnussen scored points in eighth place in the Austrian Grand Prix behind teammate Nico Hulkenberg in sixth, giving Haas its best return since the same event in 2022. Hulkenberg passing by Perez on the final lap and then re-passing the Red Bull driver, led Komatsu to admit it was a result beyond his hopes.

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“Absolutely not sixth and eighth,” he said. “Obviously our target was always to score with both cars, so ninth and tenth we were going for. Honestly, especially with Nico holding off Perez in those closing moments on merit, it was unbelievable. I’m so happy for everyone in the team.

“We knew that Perez was going to have two goes at it, because of course everybody listens to everyone else’s team radios, right? Nico was clever enough to know that was the opportunity out of Turn 3 and into Turn 4, so he just judged it to perfection. Absolutely amazing.

“You can see from the pace in the last part of the first stint…that our pace was similar to Perez, so if [there was] similar tire age, I knew we could fight. But…to be fighting against a Red Bull, what more can you ask for?

“I’m pretty happy. The strategy was good and communication was pretty good. We had that close moment after the first round of pit stops where Kevin overtook Nico and Nico locked up and again we handled that very well. Straight afterwards we addressed it.

“Even when we were stuck behind Max’s car in the second stint, we were a lap behind but we were stuck. Again, Kevin came closer, but we said, ‘No, you are not fighting each other; just look after your tires.’ We just worked as a team very well and execution was good, communication was good. I’m just so happy with this result for everyone in the team.”

Haas investing already after strong start – Komatsu

Ayao Komatsu says Haas team owner Gene Haas is already increasing his investment in the team as it looks to continue a strong start to the 2024 season at the Japanese Grand Prix. Komatsu’s predecessor as team principal, Guenther Steiner, left over …

Ayao Komatsu says Haas team owner Gene Haas is already increasing his investment in the team as it looks to continue a strong start to the 2024 season at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Komatsu’s predecessor as team principal, Guenther Steiner, left over the winter and pointed to a lack of investment in the team’s infrastructure as one of the areas of disagreement that led to his departure. In being announced as a Miami Grand Prix ambassador last week, Steiner stated Haas is performing well with what it has this year but does “not have a vision for the next step.” However, Komatsu — who took over as team principal in January –says he has already seen further commitments from the team owner.

“I got appointed officially on January 10th, and Gene’s message from day one was absolutely clear,” Komatsu said. “He said he’s got money, he will invest it, but we’ve got to show him we can use the money responsibly and efficiently. He doesn’t want to see waste. There’s a reason he’s a billionaire — he doesn’t like to waste money!

“There’s so many areas that we can improve, so that’s why I wasn’t too worried about his initial message of, ‘Come on, you guys, need to show me you are using my money responsibility, then get to a certain position, then I’ll think about investment.’ But I know for a fact that he will invest when we get to that stage.

“Already he’s commissioned a new motorhome for next year — which is not a small investment — so we are doing that. And also we are now recruiting, for our size of people, a decent chunk of new recruitment has been approved. So Gene is now actioning what he told me. So I’m not worried that he’s not going to invest. He will invest, but we’ve got to do our part, which is to use his money responsibility.”

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Komatsu admits car performance had no impact on some aspects of the additional investment, but other areas have continued as he is able to show he is spending Haas’ budget in an efficient way.

“No, the motorhome was already approved before we ran the car,” Komatsu admitted, off the back of point-scoring finishes in two of the first three races. “Gene just said to me ‘You’ve got to use this money more wisely,’ so that’s what I’m trying to do. It’s just step-by-step — nothing happens overnight, but Gene and his right-hand man are very engaged and very supportive.

“Honestly, this new recruitment helps. The number of people is quite big for our size of team. It might not be for Mercedes, but they approved everything. So we are just slowly trying to get the trust back, if you like.”

Komatsu bullish on Haas trajectory

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu is confident the VF-24 is showing all-around performance potential and so the team doesn’t need to make trade-offs to improve its competitiveness. The opening three races have seen Haas score a point in Saudi Arabia …

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu is confident the VF-24 is showing all-around performance potential and so the team doesn’t need to make trade-offs to improve its competitiveness.

The opening three races have seen Haas score a point in Saudi Arabia through Nico Hulkenberg and then with both cars in ninth and 10nth last time out in Australia. While both cars started well outside the top 10 in the last race before climbing into the points, Komatsu doesn’t believe there needs to be a focus on qualifying performance with the 2024 car, after the opposite was true last year.

“The race pace is better than qualifying pace, but that’s really circuit specific,” Komatsu said. “That’s why when I was asked, ‘Do you think your tire problem is over?’ I really didn’t want to judge it until we’ve done the minimum of four races. Again in Melbourne, with qualifying and the race, it’s a more front limitation, so that presents you with a slightly different picture.

“Suzuka as the next race, with that high-speed Sector 1, that’s going to present you with different problems as well. So I don’t think we then need to suddenly concentrate on the qualifying performance, but in terms of weakness of our car it’s reasonably clear, and if we can improve that I believe it’s going to improve both qualifying and race performance. I don’t think we’re talking about a trade-off, really.”

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One of the main areas Komatsu wants to see Haas improve is in high-speed corners, and he says the team has an understanding of what it needs to target.

“The big question is how do we achieve that? It’s reasonably clear what direction we need to develop the car, but do we have the capability to actually achieve that objective? That’s yet to be seen,” he admitted. “But we’ve got good people, so I’m sure we can.”

While Haas has shown strongly in the races, it’s had to do so from well back on the starting grid. Glenn Dunbar/Motorsport Images

Komatsu returns to his home grand prix in Japan as a team principal for the first time, and while acknowledging the significance, he expects a challenging weekend for the team.

“Honestly, I left Japan 30 years ago — in 1994 — and never thought I would come back as a team principal! So it’s going to be special,” Komatsu said.

“It’s going to be tough [in terms of performance] I think. If you look at our high-speed performance, it was already clear in Bahrain — Turn 6 and Turn 7 — Jeddah Sector 1 in qualifying, [Melbourne] Turn 9/10, Turn 6, Turn 12, we’re not good. Sector 1 might have a few high-speed corners in Suzuka! So that will be tough, but we will try our best of course.”

Komatsu encouraged after ‘pretty decent’ pre-season test for Haas

Haas was ahead of schedule during pre-season testing and has a car that could be more competitive in races than first expected, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu. Haas finish bottom of the constructors’ championship standings after a tough …

Haas was ahead of schedule during pre-season testing and has a car that could be more competitive in races than first expected, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu.

Haas finish bottom of the constructors’ championship standings after a tough 2023, often showing strong pace in qualifying but struggling in races. After taking over from Guenther Steiner in the off-season, before seeing the car run Komatsu had warned that the start to this year could be tough, but now is more positive about how the start to track running has gone.

“Very good, really good,” Komatsu told RACER. “It’s not perfect, but I would say pretty decent. Everybody’s focused on what we needed to achieve coming away from these three days of testing, so based on that we formulated our program, executed it, and the last couple of days have gone very, very well. We achieved our objectives, so much so that we adjusted yesterday’s program actually.

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“So we are ahead of where we absolutely needed to be for the test program. Kevin (Magnussen) completed a first qualifying simulation and race simulation in the morning, Nico (Hulkenberg) took over and completed a race simulation too, so progress has been great.”

With that assessment, Komatsu admits he has been pleasantly surprised with the performance Haas has been able to get out of its 2024 car, pointing to driver confidence as one of the main factors.

“Only next week will tell, so I don’t really want to say too much without being fully confident, but what I am seeing is encouraging. The fact that I’m telling you that we are ahead in terms of the test program tells you it is slightly better than what I expected, if you like.

“I think that’s because the fundamental base of the car, and consistency, even though you can see on the GPS trace we are still lacking lots of downforce – in the high-speed corners we are slow – but in terms of characteristics, consistency, predictability, there is an improvement.

“So that’s something that both Nico and Kevin can get the most out of more consistently, which they couldn’t do last year. So that’s been a decent improvement.”

Magnussen himself shared Komatsu’s sentiments, saying he’s feeling progress from the car in race trim.

“We’ve been doing a lot of high-fuel race running, trying to address that issue, and I think we’re going somewhere,” Magnussen said. “We haven’t fixed the issue completely but hopefully it’s enough to make a difference on Sunday. I expect it to be very close between all teams again this year.”

Komatsu feels ‘organic’ growth is the best way forward for Haas

New Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu believes the team has “got to grow organically” rather than chase a big step forward from major investment. Guenther Steiner’s contract was not renewed by Gene Haas as the team owner was unhappy with recent …

New Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu believes the team has “got to grow organically” rather than chase a big step forward from major investment.

Guenther Steiner’s contract was not renewed by Gene Haas as the team owner was unhappy with recent performances, while Steiner wanted to attract fresh investment to help the team improve its infrastructure and facilities. With the majority of teams on the grid investing heavily — particularly Haas’ main rivals Williams, Stake and the newly rebranded AlphaTauri — Komatsu (pictured above with driver Kevin Magnussen) says he’s unfazed by what others are doing and feels Haas needs to take a more considered approach.

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“I don’t know if I’d call it a concern,” Komatsu said. “Of course, it’s a very tough business, but I’m still very positive about what we can do with the current setup, and then as we improve on the current setup, certain things I think will become pretty obvious and natural that, OK, we need to divert slightly from our original model in this way, or we need to invest in this way.

“So that will come up naturally, rather than forcing it. I’m not here to turn the place upside down, because then the operating will stop. If we tried to suddenly to go for [changes] — even if we had massive investment straight away, we won’t be functioning properly, we won’t be using that investment properly. So you’ve got to grow organically, I think.

“OK, we were not where we should be in 2023, that’s why Gene decided to make changes,” he noted. “But you cannot then suddenly go for a huge leap, because then 2024 will be a complete disaster. We’ve got to improve the team in 2024. I see it as a transitional phase. And then whatever we learn across the course of the year in 2024, I’m sure that will help us very clearly define what we’re doing in five, eight, 10 years’ time.”

However, Komatsu also insists Haas is not only focused on 2026 as a chance to move forward, believing that team owner made a management change to show the rest of the team he wants to improve more quickly.

“Gene at the moment wants to get off the back of the grid. Obviously you saw and heard how unhappy Gene was. Of course, who’s going to be happy competing in last place? It really is embarrassing. So I think it’s positive that Gene is unhappy where we are.

“If the people in the team think, ‘OK, we’re last, and we’re not sure where we’re going. Gene doesn’t say anything, then OK, is Gene happy just making up numbers and being P10?’ That’s clearly not the case. So that’s actually motivating for everyone here. ‘OK, Gene is serious, he wants to improve the team, so let’s do it together.’”

Guenther Steiner out as team principal at Haas F1 Team

Steiner had previously served as Haas’ team principal for all eight years of the team’s existence.

A big change is coming at Haas F1 Team for 2024.

The team announced on Wednesday that team principal [autotag]Guenther Steiner[/autotag], who has served in that role for Haas since the team’s inception in 2016, has been relieved of his duties. The move comes after a 2023 season where Haas scored 12 points and finished last in the Formula 1 World Driver’s Championship.

Owner Gene Haas spoke on the decision Wednesday, thanking Steiner for his contributions to the team but insinuating that the team’s goals have not been met.

“I’d like to start by extending my thanks to Guenther Steiner for all his hard work over the past decade and I wish him well for the future,” Haas said in a statement. “We have had some successes, but we need to be consistent in delivering results that help us reach our wider goals as an organization. We need to be efficient with the resources we have but improving our design and engineering capability is key to our success as a team.”

Steiner will be succeeded by Ayao Komatsu, who previously served as Haas’ Director of Engineering. The move comes as Haas looks to center in on the engineering side of the team, and Komatsu has over 20 years of engineering experience in F1.

“Moving forward as an organization, it was clear we need to improve our on-track performances. In appointing Ayao Komatsu as Team Principal we fundamentally have engineering at the heart of our management,” Haas said in his statement. “I’m looking forward to working with Ayao and fundamentally ensuring that we maximize our potential – this truly reflects my desire to compete properly in Formula 1.”

Steiner was particularly noteworthy among F1 fans for his appearances on Netflix’s Drive to Survive series, where he often showed off his flamboyant personality.

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Steiner out at Haas as Komatsu takes over as team principal

Guenther Steiner has been replaced as Haas team principal, with Ayao Komatsu taking over the position. Steiner has been in charge of Haas since the team’s inception in 2014, overseeing team principal duties for team owner Gene Haas. The team opted …

Guenther Steiner has been replaced as Haas team principal, with Ayao Komatsu taking over the position.

Steiner has been in charge of Haas since the team’s inception in 2014, overseeing team principal duties for team owner Gene Haas. The team opted to delay its debut season until 2016 but enjoyed a sensational opening few rounds, picking up 22 of its 29 points in the first four races before finishing eighth in the constructors’ championship.

After a best finish of fifth overall in 2018, the popular team boss guided Haas through the COVID-19 pandemic and after a scoreless 2021 the team was again eighth in 2022. However, after slipping to the bottom of the constructors’ championship last season, team owner Haas has decided to replace Steiner with trackside engineering director Komatsu.

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“I’d like to start by extending my thanks to Guenther Steiner for all his hard work over the past decade and I wish him well for the future,” Haas said. “Moving forward as an organization it was clear we need to improve our on-track performances. In appointing Ayao Komatsu as team principal we fundamentally have engineering at the heart of our management.

“We have had some successes, but we need to be consistent in delivering results that help us reach our wider goals as an organization. We need to be efficient with the resources we have but improving our design and engineering capability is key to our success as a team. I’m looking forward to working with Ayao and fundamentally ensuring that we maximize our potential — this truly reflects my desire to compete properly in Formula 1.”

Ayao Komatsu has served as Chief Race Engineer at Haas F1 since its launch, and has now been elevated to the team principal role. Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

Komatsu has also been with Haas since the team first joined the grid, and will be supported in his new role by a European-based chief operations officer that the team says will manage all non-competition matters and departments.

“I’m naturally very excited to have the opportunity to be team principal at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team,” Komatsu said.. “Having been with the team since its track debut back in 2016 I’m obviously passionately invested in its success in Formula 1. I’m looking forward to leading our program and the various competitive operations internally to ensure we can build a structure that produces improved on-track performances.

“We are a performance-based business. We obviously haven’t been competitive enough recently, which has been a source of frustration for us all. We have amazing support from Gene and our various partners, and we want to mirror their enthusiasm with an improved on-track product. We have a great team of people across Kannapolis, Banbury and Maranello and together I know we can achieve the kind of results we’re capable of.”