At the beginning of 2024, expectations were low for Haas in the Formula 1 championship. Ayao Komatsu, the new team leader, repeatedly warned that they would likely be at the back of the pack, if not in last place. However, after three races, Haas has proven to be a respectable competitor in the midfield. They have scored two points in three events and addressed their weaknesses from the previous season. The team has exceeded their own expectations and concerns about their performance seem to have been premature.
However, there is a potential issue. This good start may be temporary and the team may still face long-term issues that hinder their progress. This broader view led Komatsu to take over leadership of the team, following a disagreement between former boss Guenther Steiner and team owner Gene Haas about the team’s future prospects. Steiner has now given his opinion on the team’s start and suggests that it doesn’t change much, as Haas is just performing as expected in the short term.
The VF-24 car that Haas is currently using is largely the same as what they were preparing when Steiner left the team. Steiner was aware of the progress of the 2024 car and its potential based on the launch specifications. The car achieved 10th place in Saudi Arabia, as well as ninth and 10th place in Australia. This car is an evolution of the updated version that appeared at the end of the 2023 season. With some additional changes that could not be made during the season, the car has provided a solid foundation for Haas.
Steiner recognizes that the team did a good job with the car last year and always believed they could achieve the results they are currently getting. He suggests that the team lowered their expectations initially, only to surpass them in the end. However, Steiner believes that this approach is wrong.
Last year, Haas faced tire degradation issues during races, which affected their performance. If they could solve this weakness, it was possible for Haas to become a consistent scoring team again. With development work and pre-season preparation under Komatsu’s leadership, Haas seems to have made progress in mitigating this weakness.
Steiner suggests that Komatsu deliberately promised less and is now delivering more. He believes that the team’s current results were always possible if everything fell into place as it should. However, Steiner is not resentful of Haas’ success. He is happy that the team is scoring points and holds no negative feelings towards them.
Haas’ current results are better than the lows of previous seasons, but they are not particularly special. Steiner believes this is a good step compared to last year, but it is within Haas’ capabilities. The team’s future will depend on whether they can maintain this level of performance or regress to their previous form.
There are concerns about Haas’ long-term prospects without new investments from their owners. It is too early to determine the team’s limit based on just three races. Komatsu criticizes the team’s mistakes and believes they need to be perfect in such a tight battle in the midfield. He understands the importance of making the most of every opportunity to secure a higher position in the championship.
Komatsu’s mindset is always to extract the best from what the team has. He recognizes that his current position is not a reason to settle and emphasizes the need to capitalize on their progress. The team must continue to strive for improvement, as other teams like Williams and Alpine are also expected to improve their performance. Every opportunity must be maximized to avoid losing a higher position in the championship.
© 2024
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