Komatsu confident of better Haas upgrades

In brief

Komatsu confident of better Haas upgrades

Haas are now better placed to produce more effective upgrades for their car this season, believes new team principal Ayao Komatsu.

The team unveiled their 2024 car yesterday. Haas have struggled with in-season development in recent seasons but Komatsu says the team have already made changes to the technical team to help improve their upgrades.

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

“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. That’s one key reason as to why we haven’t been able to put upgrades on the car and fall back in the season. We’re now already working in that way and there’s much better transparency, openness, and communication. Therefore, I believe we have a much better chance of upgrading the car properly this year.”

De Vries loses sponsorship lawsuit

Formula E racer and former F1 driver Nyck de Vries has lost a lawsuit over a €250,000 (£213,600) loan by an investment company, Investrand.

A sponsorship deal between the two parties was struck during his time in Formula 2, with an agreement that the group would receive 50% of his income as a Formula 1 driver should he become one by the end of 2022.

Despite arguing that his one-off appearance for Williams in that year’s Italian Grand Prix was as a reserve and test driver and not a race driver, the court found De Vries would have to repay the loan and provide half of his earnings as an AlphaTauri driver to the group .

McLaren reveal Bustamante’s livery

McLaren have revealed the livery that Bianca Bustamante will race in for her F1 Academy campaign this year.

Bustamante will compete in the season season of the all-women championship in 2024 with ART. She finished seventh after two race victories and two more podium appearances last year.

All ten teams are supporting at least one driver in the championship for this season, with each driver chosen allowed to run in the colours of their connected team.

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said that his team were “pleased to have Bianca involved in the McLaren Driver Development programme and…