During the Chinese Grand Prix, we met with Ayao Komatsu, the new Haas team principal, who replaced Guenther Steiner for the 2024 F1 season. Komatsu has over 20 years of experience in Formula 1, having previously managed the engineering department as Chief Race Engineer and subsequently Director of Engineering.
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He has been working at Haas since 2016. We talked with him about the fundamental changes he has implemented within the team, how engineering knowledge and skills help him in his new position, the modern image of a Team Principal in Formula 1, and Haas’s plans for 2024.
Jastina Golopolosova: Hello Ayao! You have just returned from your home Japanese Grand Prix; tell us how you felt about your new status as a Team Principal. How did the Japanese audience receive you?
Ayao Komatsu: Hello! It was an incredibly warm welcome. On Thursdays in Japan, we always get a good turnout for the pit walk. But this year, the support was overwhelming. I was there for an hour and a half, but I still had to escape [laughs]. The passion and enthusiasm of the Japanese audience for Formula 1 is truly inspiring, and I’m grateful for their support. It’s a testament to the love for this sport.
J.G.: Wow! That is wonderful! After four races, the team’s drivers have scored points three times, and in Japan, Nico Hulkenberg finished near the points zone. Haas is currently in 7th place in the Constructors’ Cup. Are you satisfied with how the team has started the season?
A.K.: Yes and no. Yes, if somebody asked me, after four races at the start of the season, I would have taken it if we scored points in two races. So, what we’re achieving as a sporting result is better than expected before we run the car in the Bahrain test. So I’m satisfied in that way. I’m not happy with the fact that we have yet to really have a perfect race. Of course, as a race team, we want to maximise everything. If the car’s fast enough for P11, we should get P11. We should get a podium if the car’s fast enough for the podium. For instance, in Japan, we should have got P10. If Niko had a better start for the restart and Kevin had a better pit stop, then we should have at least been fighting for that P10 place with Tsunoda until the very end. I honestly felt that was one point lost. That…
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