Haas F1 Team secured their best result since 2022 with a brilliant points haul in Austria. Nico Hulkenberg crossed the line in P6, whilst teammate Kevin Magnussen finished in P8. This result propels the team into 7th in the standings, validating the work of Ayao Komatsu since arriving at the team.
When first appointed as Haas team principal, there was plenty of scepticism about Komatsu’s hiring. This was not necessarily because of the Japanese engineer’s credentials – but because of Gene Haas’s reluctance to invest in the team.
However, the 2024 season has demonstrated that Ayao Komatsu is capable of improving the team’s efficiency and overall performance.
Their mid-season development is perhaps the best evidence of this. Unlike previous years, steady updates have arrived on the VF-24. This is partly why the American team was so competitive at a high-speed circuit like Austria.
Speaking after yesterday’s excellent result, Hulkenberg only had positive things to say:
“It was one hell of a race, especially at the end when it got so intense. It was touch and go to keep Perez behind in the last two laps.
“He came by, but into Turn 3, I let him edge in front, so I got DRS, which obviously put me back in front.
RED BULL RING, AUSTRIA – JUNE 28: Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team during the Austrian GP at Red Bull Ring on Friday June 28, 2024 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mark Sutton / LAT Images)
“I’m very happy, that’s double points for the team which helps in a big way. I didn’t expect that, an amazing team performance.
“And I think it’s confirmed now that in the midfield on all different types of tracks, we’re competitive, we can fight, and that’s really great news.”
Ayao Komatsu leads Haas resurgence
Haas will also introduce upgrades this weekend in Silverstone. These improvements should help keep the team near the front of the midfield.
Currently 7th in the standings, Haas now have more points than Alpine, Williams and Sauber combined.
Excluding any shocking turn of fortune, Ayao Komatsu’s first year as team principal will be remembered as a success.
The 48-year-old reflected on the team’s efforts in Spielberg:
“I’m just so happy for everyone in the team. Sometimes, we get unlucky. But today, our execution was amazing. Nico and Kevin drove well, and pit stops were good, everything was great.
“I’m speechless, I’m just so happy for everyone to get this result and for Nico to beat Perez on merit, that’s a huge statement.”
