With its sights set on a $100 million bonus, Haas F1’s progress could significantly bolster future resources.
Haas F1 has made impressive strides in its new post-Günther Steiner era.
After Steiner’s lengthy tenure, Ayao Komatsu took over the small American team in 2024—and already much better results are flowing in.
“Nico (Hulkenberg)’s sixth place on the grid in Singapore, just six tenths from the pole position, is like a pole position for our small team,” the Japanese stated.
Komatsu, a long-serving senior engineer at Haas before his promotion, has managed to change the team’s culture.
“Any good idea is now followed through, no matter who it comes from,” he confirmed. “In the past, the direction was set from above.”
Upgrades at Haas F1 were once rare and often random, but the three major development phases so far this season have accelerated the pace.
“The first only worked at 50%, the second yielded more than expected, and the third was delayed by a race.”
“With the first package, quite average, several of our guys immediately had ideas on how we could get more out of the parts. There were no recriminations—everyone just pulled together to fix it for the second.”
Scoring points is now common for Haas, moving the team from last place in the overall standings in 2023 to one that is currently beating Williams, Alpine, and Sauber—and is just a few points behind RB F1.
“Most of the time, since the summer break, we have been faster than Aston Martin,” Komatsu continues. “But we know Alonso, he’s very strong in the race and always maximizes what he has in hand. But Aston is no longer an obvious target, they are far ahead.”
If Haas can surpass RB F1 for sixth place in the overall constructors’ standings, it would mean a windfall of nearly $100 million, significantly enhancing certain areas. Perhaps starting with the acquisition of a simulator?
Currently, Haas may be the only team in the pit lane without a night shift at its headquarters to deeply analyze daily data with a driver in a sophisticated simulator.
“We plan to set up something of the sort, but it has to be done step by step.”
“If such a service only creates more noise and ends up with those at home and those at the track arguing over who has the best ideas, it won’t be beneficial.”
“Therefore, we need to achieve this with the assurance of immediate gains for the race team and our on-site drivers, not with new correlation problems to solve on the spot.”
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Haas F1 Targets $100M Gain Amid Rapid Gains Haas F1 Targets $100M Gain Amid Rapid Gains