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Haas shakes up F1 team structure: Revamping the team for sharper execution and Strengthening technical and operational frameworks

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
January 21, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Haas Calls on Oliver Bearman to Replace Unwell Kevin Magnussen for Remainder of Brazilian GP

Formula One F1 - Sao Paulo Grand Prix - Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 1, 2024 Haas' Oliver Bearman during practice REUTERS/Carla Carniel

Haas has announced a “huge” overhaul of its Formula 1 race team structure in preparation for the 2025 season, aiming to address weaknesses in race execution and maximize its competitive potential. Despite showing progress in 2024, the American team believes its trackside performance held it back from finishing higher than seventh in the Constructors’ Championship.

Team boss Ayao Komatsu highlighted the importance of the changes, which include the addition of experienced personnel and the promotion of internal talent to new roles.


Revamping the team for sharper execution

Komatsu admitted that Haas’ growing competitiveness in 2024 exposed vulnerabilities in its race-day operations, particularly in strategy and pit-stop decisions.

“The more the car became competitive, the more it exposed our weaknesses,” Komatsu said. “We left too many points on the table due to trackside operations. This overhaul was necessary to step up.”

The restructuring includes new senior hires to bolster Haas’ decision-making and strategy on race weekends:

  • Francesco Nenci joins as Chief Race Engineer, bringing expertise from his role as Audi’s Dakar performance team leader.
  • Carine Cridelich, previously a Race Strategy Engineer at Red Bull, takes on the role of Head of Strategy.
  • Mark Lowe, a former Haas team manager, returns as Sporting Director.

Promoting internal talent

Haas also promoted from within to fill key trackside roles:

  • Laura Muller, a long-time Haas engineer, becomes Race Engineer for Esteban Ocon.
  • Ronan O’Hare, previously a Performance Engineer, steps up as Race Engineer for rookie Oliver Bearman.

Komatsu emphasized the importance of developing internal talent rather than waiting for external hires to become available:
“If the external candidate isn’t clearly better, I’d rather invest internally. Laura and Ronan have the potential to be just as good or even better in a year’s time.”


Strengthening technical and operational frameworks

While the trackside team sees a major overhaul, Haas’ technical team remains stable under Andrea de Zorda, who continues as Technical Director, and Davide Paganelli, overseeing aerodynamics. Komatsu praised their efforts in ensuring the VF-25 remains competitive as the team prepares for the 2026 regulation changes.

To improve race-day decision-making, Haas has also introduced a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program in collaboration with Toyota, allowing the team to run older cars and refine processes in a less pressurized environment.

“This testing program will allow our new drivers and engineers to work together, simulate scenarios, and gain experience without the intensity of a race weekend,” Komatsu explained.


Lessons from 2024: Missed opportunities

Haas’ seventh-place finish in 2024, while an improvement, was marred by missed opportunities due to strategy errors. Komatsu pointed to races like Bahrain, where Kevin Magnussen lost points due to poor pit-stop decisions, and high-profile missteps at the Dutch, United States, and Mexican Grands Prix.

“There were so many times under pressure where we didn’t function as well as we should. It’s not just about the people but also the training and preparation we provide,” Komatsu admitted.


Navigating change without disruption

Komatsu acknowledged the challenge of implementing changes mid-season, which is why he opted to delay the restructuring until the winter break. This cautious approach allowed Haas to maintain stability during the 2024 campaign while preparing for the overhaul.

“We are such a small team with no margin for error, so we couldn’t afford to disintegrate. The timing of this revamp is critical, but it’s still going to be a huge challenge for us,” Komatsu said.


Looking ahead to 2025

With its revamped structure, Haas aims to improve race-day execution and capitalize on the gains made in car performance. The combination of experienced new hires, internal promotions, and enhanced preparation through private testing is expected to strengthen the team’s competitiveness in the midfield battle.

Komatsu remains optimistic about the team’s prospects:
“We are better prepared than ever. This restructuring positions us to compete more effectively and make the most of every opportunity in 2025.”

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