Komatsu: Gene Haas is unhappy but ‘definitely committed’

New Haas new team principal Ayao Komatsu has stepped forward to reassure the US outfit’s fans about team owner Gene Haas’ steadfast commitment to Formula 1.

Haas announced last week the departures of long-standing team boss Guenther Steiner and technical director Simona Resta, with Komatsu - the team’s former director of engineering - taking the reins of the outfit’s operations.

The changes have inevitably raised questions about Haas’ direction and its ability to compete in the increasingly competitive Formula 1 landscape.

Komatsu, who has been with the team since its inception in 2016, recognizes the concerns surrounding these changes but maintains that Gene Haas remains fully committed to Formula 1.

“Obviously you saw and heard how unhappy Gene was,” said Komatsu, speaking to the media on Wednesday for the first time since his appointment as team principal.

“Of course, who’s going to be happy competing in last place? It is embarrassing, it really is embarrassing.

• Read also: Marko exposes true reason for Steiner’s exit from Haas

“I think it’s positive that Gene is unhappy where we are. If the people in the team think OK, we’re last, and we’re not sure where we’re going, Gene doesn’t say anything, then OK, is Gene happy just making up numbers and being P10? That’s clearly not the case.

“So that’s actually motivating for everyone here: OK, Gene is serious, he wants to improve the team, so let’s do it together.

“He’s definitely committed. Otherwise, he doesn’t have to do this move, change direction. It’s a huge thing for him as well.

“You know, Guenther was instrumental in getting the team off the ground. So for him to do what he did, the decision he’s taken, if he wasn’t committed, why would you do it?”

Since assuming his leadership role with Haas, Komatsu has embarked on an in-depth assessment of the team's operations and performance, seeking to establish a clear understanding of its strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

The 47-year-old Japanese engineer has dedicated the past few weeks to engaging with the team's diverse workforce, including engineers, mechanics, and support staff.

“I’m focused on improvement, obviously,” he added. “I’d like to think that I’m correct enough and I’d like to say I’m polite enough. I’m reasonably direct, I think, and then transparency, honesty: I don’t do politics.

“I believe that if you’ve got the right intention, if your motivation is clear to get the best out of the team, I think it will get through to people and then really empower people and bring them together.

“I'm going to Italy to meet with all the designers and the aerodynamicists we have got over there.

“I need to increase my understanding in that area. What are the core issues? How can we improve that?

“I spoke to some of the people here, but it's not like I've spoken with everybody already. So, I'd like to wait until I speak with everyone.

“Then get people together and formulate an overview, rather than me saying: 'Okay, within the last three days I identified this', which may not be a correct representation.”

While Komatsu remains cautious about making definitive decisions at this stage, he has indicated that enhancing communication and strengthening collaboration between Haas's UK and Italian facilities will be a crucial focus area.

“Of course, if you're setting up on a blank sheet of paper, you're not going to set up an F1 team with two separate factories in the UK and Italy. But that's how we started.

“That was very beneficial in '16, '17, '18, to get off the ground. Then, of course, the landscape changes, and certain regulation changes happen, and so the team needs to evolve.

“This kind of things we need to assess continuously. But again, if you asked me, is that ideal, having a UK office here, and Italy office there? No. But is that a main constraint? No. Can we do better? Absolutely, yes. So that's what I'm focused on.

“If we get the maximum out of how we are set up, and then if then that becomes 'Right, we cannot do anything better with the way we are set up', then we can talk about [changing things].”

One key aspect of Haas’ restructuring is the recruitment of a European-based Chief Operating Officer, who will take over off-track responsibilities, allowing Komatsu to focus solely on on-track performance.

This strategic move aims to streamline operations and optimize the team's resources, which was allegedly a sticky point between Steiner and Gene Haas.

Komatsu has noted the significant investments being made by rival teams, such as AlphaTauri, Williams, and Sauber, as well as the potential entry of Andretti into the sport.

He acknowledges that these developments pose challenges but remains confident in Haas' ability to adapt and compete.

“It's a very tough business, but I'm still very positive about what we can do with the current set-up,” he said.

“Then, as we improve on the current set-up, certain things, I think, will become pretty obvious and natural that may [make us decide]: okay, we need to diverge slightly from our original model in this way, and we need to maybe invest in this way.

“That will come up naturally, I think, rather than forcing it. I'm not here to put the place upside down, because then we cannot operate, and we will stop.

“Even if we had a massive investment straightaway, we won't be functioning properly, we won't be using that investment properly. So, you have got to grow organically,” continued Komatsu.

“We were not where we should be in 2023 – and that's why we decided to make changes. But you cannot then suddenly just go for a huge leap, because then 2024 will be a complete disaster, right? So, we’ve got to improve the team in 2024.

“I see it as a transitional phase, and then whatever we learn during the course of the year in '24, I'm sure that will help us very clearly define what we're going to do in five years’ time, eight years’ time, or 10 years’ time.”

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