“I’m not here to replace Steiner’s character”

Instead, the Japanese says his focus is on making the right changes that he thinks are needed behind the scenes to help move the American-owned squad off the bottom of the grid. 

In a wide-ranging first interview with selected media reflecting on his appointment, Komatsu acknowledged that Steiner’s larger-than-life character was something that could never be followed. 

“Of course. I’m not trying to be Guenther Steiner. He’s a very different person,” said Komatsu, speaking as Haas’s F1 factory in Banbury. 

“I’m not here to replace Guenther Steiner’s character. He’s a very different character, as you know. He’s got very different strengths and weaknesses to me, so I’m not trying to be somebody else.   

“Gene [Haas, team owner] knows that, and if Gene wanted Guenther Steiner’s replacement in that way, he’d have appointed somebody else.  

“I understand that Gene wanted something different, so I’ll try to be the best version of myself rather than trying to be somebody else.”  

Komatsu is adamant that his way of doing things will not be the same as Steiner’s, but the objective is clear – get the most out of the strengths within Haas. 

“I’m focused on improvement, obviously,” he said. “I’d like to think that I’m correct enough and I’d like to say I’m polite enough. I’m reasonably direct, I think, and then transparency, honesty: I don’t do politics.  

“I believe that if you’ve got the right intention, if your motivation is clear to get the best out of the team, I think it will get through to people and then really empower people and bring them together.”  

Having only stepped up to the team boss job at the start of this year, Komatsu has spent the last few weeks trying to build up a proper picture of the strengths and weaknesses of Haas. 

He says that before committing to making changes, he wants to meet as many staff as possible – as well as visit its key facilities in Italy – to get a better understanding of what is needed to be done. 

“I’m going to Italy to meet with all the designers and the aerodynamicists we have got over there,” he said. 

“I need to increase my understanding in that area. What are the core issues? How can we improve that? 

“I spoke to some of the people here, but it’s not like I’ve spoken with everybody already. So, I’d like to wait until I speak with everyone. Then get people together and formulate…