Latest Episode | Cut To The Race Podcast
After it was announced this afternoon that Technical Director Simone Resta had left the Haas F1 team, Günther Steiner has now followed suit.
Guenther Steiner (L), team principal of Haas Formula and Gene Haas, founder, Haas Automation and chairman, Haas Formula, speak with the media during the Gene Haas Formula One Press Conference at the Concord Convention Center on April 14, 2014 in Concord, North Carolina. (Image Credit: Jared C. Tilton via Getty Images)The first change for Haas
Haas technical director Simeone Resta has parted ways with the team ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Resta, who joined Haas in 2021 as part of a collaboration with Ferrari, played a crucial role in strengthening technical ties between the American outfit and the Italian marquee.
Haas faced challenges in the 2023 season, finishing at the bottom of the constructors’ championship, with issues related to tire wear and a failed upgrade package contributing to their struggles. The team also altered the philosophy of its VF-23 car but failed to see improvements.
Resta’s departure leaves Haas without a technical director as they approach the 2024 season.
What will happen without Günther Steiner?
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has named Ayao Komatsu as its new Team Principal, succeeding Guenther Steiner, who has departed the organisation after a decade at the helm. Komatsu, formerly the Director of Engineering and a part of the team since its inception in 2016, brings over two decades of Formula 1 experience, combining expertise in both engineering and management.
As the new Team Principal, the 47-year-old Japanese engineering graduate will now oversee all aspects of the team’s competition elements. This includes shaping the team’s overall strategy and enhancing on-track performance through a focus on employee empowerment and optimizing structural processes.
To bolster operations off-track and align with Komatsu’s performance-oriented approach, the team will also appoint a Chief Operating Officer based in Europe. This role will be responsible for managing non-competition matters and various departments operating from MoneyGram Haas F1 Team’s Banbury facility.
What does the team owner say?
The departure of Günther Steiner means the departure of a team boss who has caused a lot of turmoil in the paddock. How does Haas team owner Gene Haas see the situation?
He explains: “I’d like to start by extending my thanks to Guenther Steiner for all his hard work over the past decade and I wish him well for the future.
“Moving forward as an organization it was clear we need to improve our on-track performances. In appointing Ayao Komatsu as Team Principal we fundamentally have engineering at the heart of our management.”
“We have had some successes, but we need to be consistent in delivering results that help us reach our wider goals as an organization. We need to be efficient with the resources we have but improving our design and engineering capability is key to our success as a team. I’m looking forward to working with Ayao and fundamentally ensuring that we maximize our potential – this truly reflects my desire to compete properly in Formula 1.”
Welcoming the new team principal
Ayao Kumatso said about his new role as team principal: “I’m naturally very excited to have the opportunity to be Team Principal at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.
“Having been with the team since its track-debut back in 2016 I’m obviously passionately invested in its success in Formula 1. I’m looking forward to leading our program and the various competitive operations internally to ensure we can build a structure that produces improved on-track performances.”
“We are a performance-based business.”
Komatsu continued: “We obviously haven’t been competitive enough recently which has been a source of frustration for us all. We have amazing support from Gene and our various partners, and we want to mirror their enthusiasm with an improved on-track product. We have a great team of people across Kannapolis, Banbury and Maranello and together I know we can achieve the kind of results we’re capable of.”
Pre-season testing for the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship is set to kick off at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 21-23. The season-opener, the Bahrain Grand Prix, will follow at the same venue from February 29 to March 2.
Feature Image Credit: Andrew Hone via LAT Images/Haas F1 Team