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Komatsu encouraged by rapid Haas recovery since first race
Team principal Ayao Komatsu is delighted by the turnaround Haas has made since the season-opening race in Australia, after his team moved up to fifth in the constructors’ championship after four rounds.
Haas discovered a significant weakness with its car in Melbourne, as it struggled with porpoising -- or bouncing -- in high-speed corners due to the design of its 2025 floor. Although the smoother surface in China allowed for a far more competitive weekend, with both drivers scoring points, a quick fix was introduced in Japan that enabled the team to score a point at another high-speed circuit, before adding another double-points result in Bahrain.
“Of course I can’t [believe it],” Komatsu (pictured at left, above, with Esteban Ocon) told SiriusXM. “It’s Formula 1 so a lot changes in a very short space of time -- we all know that. That’s why in Melbourne, every day trackside [personnel] were talking to the guys in Italy and the guys in the UK, working together, trying to find a solution and come up with a strategy to understand how we were going to attack the next few races.
“And then Shanghai, Suzuka, Bahrain, you see the result of that. We are far from perfect, of course, but what really gives me great pleasure is this team, and how we grew up together. We believe together and we support each other.
“There is none of this blame culture or finger-pointing or hiding away. We all accepted that, ‘We’ve got a big issue here, we’ve got to tackle it head-on, what’s the best way to go about it?’ and we were just working together. Also the two drivers, Esteban [Ocon] and Ollie [Bearman], they have been absolutely at the center of it. That’s what we needed, that’s what I was looking for, and that’s what we’re doing.
“So honestly, I cannot complain. I’m so proud of this team. Everyone.”
Despite the run of points since Australia, Komatsu says the bouncing is still a problem the team has to deal with, and he’s wary of it rearing its head again if the team doesn’t get the setup right at certain tracks.
“Of course we will do our best in Jeddah but I think we have to take it one race at a time, because I’m not kidding and saying we’ve solved the fundamental issue of the car -- we’ve still got it," he admitted. "Even [in Bahrain] we have it, but nowhere near to such a severe extent as in Melbourne. Partly because of the track, partly because we improved the car, but we are not completely out of it.
“So honestly, I have to be grounded. Every single race we have to go into with an open mind and then try to get the best car setup, the best program, and get the best out of the driving.”
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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