Haas: a new way of looking at things, the key to their success
Haas surprised everyone this season by climbing to 7th place in the constructors' standings. This progress is due to the arrival of Ayao Komatsu as team manager. Under his leadership, the team doubled its points total after several years of difficulties.
If the traditional teams still occupy the top spots in the rankings this year, a team that is usually on the sidelines has managed to stand out. Haas, which is usually at the back of the grid, has shown a more than satisfactory performance in 2024. A success that the new team director could well attribute to themselves.
A new director to replace Steiner
During the off-season this winter, Haas had announced the departure of Günther Steiner from his position as team principal. Highly regarded by fans, his departure had surprised many people in the paddock. To replace him, the American team called upon Ayao Komatsu, formerly an engineer for the team. With Haas’ good results this season, the arrival of the Japanese seems to have brought them their new unexpected success.
Since taking office earlier this year, the team has been propelled to seventh place in the constructors’ standings. A position that may seem insignificant, but contrasts with the 2023 championship in which they had finished last. This performance shows a significant improvement compared to last year. Haas has already accumulated 27 points this mid-season, more than double their total from the previous season.
Nico Hülkenberg delivered impressive performances in Austria and Great Britain, securing sixth place twice. These results reflect the progress of the team, and as Ayao Komatsu emphasized, it goes far beyond simple technical improvements. “27 points, it’s great – it’s more than double what we had last year. But more than that, I find it very encouraging to see how we work together as a team,” he said.
Success depends on the team.
If the team seems to be performing well this year, it’s not because Ayao Komatsu is working miracles, but rather it’s the good atmosphere that is responsible. The new director of the Haas team noted that this team cohesion was lacking in previous seasons, but it has been the factor that allowed Haas to return to the forefront. Ayao Komatsu believes that creating an environment where each team member, from engineers to staff, understands their role and contribution is essential.
« From the very first day, I was convinced that we had plenty of good people, incredible people, so it was about bringing all that together and giving these people an environment in which they can thrive,” he explained. « There’s no blame culture; when something doesn’t work, we have to get to the bottom of things, but it’s not a witch hunt. Creating this safe space for everyone to move forward is key. »
He who has highlighted the importance of a healthy relationship within the team seems to have taken the right direction in light of the results that Haas is producing. The new direction taken by the team also seems to have won over the German driver Nico Hülkenberg who had already expressed himself on the subject a week ago. Haas, which continues to improve as the races go on, has a strong chance of avoiding last place this year. To the detriment of Sauber, which still has not scored any points.
