Ayao Komatsu is “realistic” about the car Haas will have when the 2024 season begins. The newly elected team principal knows better than most about the obstacles facing the US outfit.
Financial limitations and infrastructural deficiencies have been ever-present at Haas since they joined F1. Despite their impressive first three seasons (2016-18), there was always a clear ceiling on the team’s potential for success.
This ceiling continues to shrink in recent campaigns, with teams becoming increasingly competitive and ambitious.
Even teams whose finances previously plagued them, such as Sauber or Williams, are receiving new investment. Both in the short and long term, this will transform them into far more potent threats in Formula 1.
The same cannot be said about Haas, who will persist under their current model. Gene Haas is adamant that a financial injection is not the solution to the team’s troubles.
Amidst this climate, Ayao Komatsu must find a way to unlock performance. This is not an enviable task, especially considering the team’s conclusion to last season.
Perhaps more concerningly for Haas, as revealed by new team principal Ayao Komatsu, the team’s only update of the season (in COTA) moved resources away from their 2024 challenger:
“The ’24 is a clear step, but whether it’s good enough against the competition to start off with? I don’t think so.”
“We changed the concept so late as well, and then by doing the Austin upgrade, we diverted our resources a little bit.
“I’m realistic with the car we’re putting out in Bahrain, but not in a negative manner.
“It’s not the fault of our engineers, our guys.”
For a team stretched so thin in terms of resources, it isn’t altogether unsurprising that last season’s upgrade package had a knock-on effect.
However, it says something about the team’s capabilities if a single set of updates impacts their later progression.
AUTODROMO HERMANOS RODRIGUEZ, MEXICO – OCTOBER 26: Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari and Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team during the Mexico City GP at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Thursday October 26, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images)
When considering their rather limited progress since the regulation change, there will be plenty of pessimism hearing into 2024.
Pessimism could even be the incorrect term, with all objective assessments pointing towards a rather underwhelming season for the American squad.
Komatu’s comments throughout the year will be fascinating to observe. There are clear limitations that cannot be overcome for the foreseeable future, so only minor tweaks can be implemented.
Excluding a tremendous step forward from Ferrari (which could propel Haas forward), the next twelve months could see Haas fall into relative obscurity.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndsiang
