Haas F1’s New Leader Signals Shift Towards Success

Ayao Komatsu hails Haas F1’s teamwork as key to their success, marking a new era of leadership.

Ayao Komatsu Expresses Satisfaction with Haas F1’s Progress, Signals a New Direction for the American Team

Ayao Komatsu has praised the progress made by Haas F1, suggesting it marks a significant shift towards better leadership for the American team. Komatsu, who replaced Günther Steiner as head of the team this winter, has found his initial months in the role to be positive.

“Having 27 points is fantastic; it’s more than double what we achieved last year,” Komatsu stated. “But more than that, it’s hugely encouraging to see how we are working together as a team.”

“This wasn’t the case until the end of last year, so for me, that’s the biggest positive point and definitely a good sign that we are moving in the right direction.”

Komatsu explains that his approach has not been to overhaul Haas, but to empower staff to excel: “From day one, I was convinced that we had a lot of competent people, extraordinary people, so it’s about bringing them together and giving them an environment in which they can perform.”

“Everyone, no matter who you are—whether you’re a computer scientist, race engineer, driver, or financier—everyone must understand what you do and how it will contribute to performance on the track.”

“Once we start building this and communicating it, once everyone understands how they contribute, it also fosters teamwork. There’s no blame culture; when something doesn’t work, we need to get to the bottom of it, but it’s not a witch hunt. The key is to create a safe space where everyone can move forward.”