Lotus chief race engineer Ayao Komatsu is set to follow Romain Grosjean to the new Haas F1 Team.

Komatsu has been at Lotus since 2006 and was Grosjean's race engineer from the start of the Frenchman's second spell with the team in 2012. Together the pair scored nine podium finishes until Komatsu was promoted to the role of chief race engineer at the start of this season.

With Grosjean joining Haas in 2016 he has asked Komatsu to join him at the new team, which has been working hard to recruit experience F1 personnel ahead of its debut next year.

F1i understands Komatsu is set to agree to the move, although it is not yet clear if Komatsu will join as chief race engineer as he was at Lotus or if he will revert to being Grosjean's race engineer at Haas.

Haas team owner Gene Haas said in Austin that the partnership with Ferrari and addition of Grosjean has made the team more attractive to senior personnel having already recruited former Caterham and Marussia employees.

“I think that’s an in process development where people come available," Haas said when asked if he had recruited everyone he wanted. "As a result of our relationship with Ferrari and then hiring Grosjean we’re starting to notice that we’re attracting better personnel, more experienced personnel, so I think those relationships are helping.”

REPORT: Rosberg beats Hamilton to Mexican GP pole

AS IT HAPPENED: Mexican Grand Prix - Qualifying

Click here for the F1 drivers' girlfriends gallery

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.

Recent Posts

Alpine double-podium in Brazil could deliver $30 million windfall

Alpine’s remarkable double podium at the São Paulo Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon and Pierre…

10 hours ago

F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2024 São Paulo GP

Alexander Albon, Williams (Did Not Start): 5.5/10 Alex Albon is definitely going through something of…

11 hours ago

Jos Verstappen rips British media after Brazilian Max fest

Jos Verstappen wasted no time after his son spectacular win at the São Paulo Grand…

13 hours ago

Leclerc left with ‘mixed feelings’ after disappointing Sao Paulo GP

Charles Leclerc's weekend in Sao Paulo was unfortunately a stark contrast to Ferrari's recent triumphs…

14 hours ago

Back when Kimi knew exactly what he was doing

Twelve years ago on this day, Kimi Raikkonen took a popular win at the 2012…

16 hours ago

Mercedes fined for starting grid tyre pressure infringement

The Mercedes team was hit with a fine by the FIA after Sunday’s Sao Paulo…

17 hours ago