F1 News: Haas Chief Reveals Worry For 2024 - "Don't Think We Understand Everything"

New Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu reveals how the team is getting on behind-the-scenes ahead of the 2024 season.

The Haas Formula One team has acknowledged grasping a "significant portion" of the tyre-related issues that impeded their performance last season, yet admits the full picture remains somewhat elusive. 

Key Takeaways:

• In-depth Analysis of Tyre Issues: Despite understanding a substantial part of the tyre challenges that affected their race pace, Haas admits to not having fully deciphered the complexities involved, reflecting an ongoing endeavour to optimise performance.
• Aerodynamic Upgrades and Varied Strategies: An aerodynamic upgrade introduced at the US Grand Prix failed to provide conclusive guidance for the team, resulting in divergent paths for drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg. This scenario underscores the team's flexible yet exploratory approach to overcoming obstacles.
• Leadership and Organisational Changes: With the appointment of Ayao Komatsu as the new team principal, there's a renewed emphasis on enhancing communication and collaboration, particularly between the aerodynamic department in Italy and the tyre department in Great Britain, aiming for a more unified team effort.

Haas Press Image

The Haas F1 team's journey through the 2023 season was characterised by a puzzling discrepancy between their qualifying speed and race performance, largely attributed to difficulties in managing tyre wear. Despite an aerodynamic upgrade aimed at addressing these issues, a clear strategic direction remained elusive, leading to different approaches for team drivers.

The transition from Güenther Steiner to Ayao Komatsu as the new team principal marks a pivotal shift in tackling these persistent challenges. Komatsu's honest admission about the team's understanding of the tyre issues is noteworthy. He states to Motorsport-Total:

"I don't think we understand everything. I think we understand a lot of it, but the only proof there is is if you can build a car that can deal with the problem.

"I don't want to sit here and say that we understand it 100 percent, because we don't. But we have a good idea of ​​what the reasons are and what we need to focus on.

“From 2019 to 2023 the program was very different. It may look the same, but it was very different."

[Translated by Google]

Komatsu's focus on improving the team's internal communication and working practices, especially between crucial departments, is a vital move toward addressing root causes of past difficulties. He emphasises the importance of a cohesive work culture and open dialogue in overcoming the car's deficiencies, stating:

"If we do not work very integrated and do not communicate properly between the aerodynamic department in Italy and the tire department in Great Britain, that's a problem.

"This work culture and practice is something that I will focus on improving. We want to move as one.

"We have a real problem with the car, accept it, communicate and discuss it openly with all relevant people. And even if there is still differences between certain people around the table.

"I think differences of opinion are healthy as long as everyone knows that a decision has to be made. So someone has to make a decision and we will go in this direction. That's fine.

"But when in a group of one who says: 'I think that's a problem', and the other says: 'Okay, good', and then it is no longer communicated and just continued in the same direction. "

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