After four seasons without reaching the podium and only earning 52 points, Haas saw its team principal Guenther Steiner and technical director Simone Resta leave last winter. Komatsu took over as the new team principal, and Andrea de Zordo became the new technical director.
These changes happened because Gene Haas, the team’s founder and owner, was disappointed with the poor performance, and Steiner mentioned a lack of investment.
Despite these changes raising concerns about the team’s future, Komatsu assured that Gene Haas is still committed and willing to invest in the team. Haas plans to introduce a new motorhome and is hiring new staff.
“Gene’s message from day one was clear: he’s ready to invest, but we must use the money responsibly and efficiently,” said Komatsu. “He doesn’t like wasting money, so we need to show him we can handle it well.”
“I know he’ll invest when we prove ourselves. He’s already approved a new motorhome for next year, which is a significant investment. And we’re recruiting new staff. Gene is acting on his words. He will invest, but we must use his money wisely.”
Komatsu emphasized the importance of gaining Gene Haas’s trust again. He clarified that the decision to invest in a new motorhome was made before the team’s recent successes, showing Gene’s unwavering commitment.
Currently ranked seventh in the constructors’ championship, Haas faces tough competition from teams like RB, Williams, Sauber, and Alpine.
Komatsu admitted that Haas might struggle to keep up with these teams in upgrades. He said they would focus on introducing quality parts quickly rather than many parts, as they wait for new hires to join the team.
“Even if we hire more people now, it will take time for them to join. So we’re focused on using what we have efficiently and introducing updates as soon as possible.”
