Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has given some harsh predictions about the team’s form in the first F1 race of the 2024 season in Bahrain.
The team first revealed the design and livery of the VF-24 ahead of pre-season testing, and although the design has been changed, it maintains a similar look compared to last year.
Haas launched an improved version of its car at last year’s American Grand Prix as it looks to turn its fortunes around and move further up the grid ahead of the 2024 season.
Gone is the bathtub and tall sidepod design concept in favor of the downwash effect pioneered by Red Bull on the RB19. The team has a new technical director and performance director, but Komatsu believes it will take some time before they can be competitive.
“I still think that coming out of the gate in Bahrain, we will be at the back of the grid, if not the last,” Komatsu said.
“Since I became team principal I have spent a lot of time talking to managers both in England and Italy and they are excited because this is an opportunity to improve and there is room for improvement everywhere. Masu.”
Haas explains early struggles
Komatsu replaced Gunter Steiner as team principal earlier this year after the team chose not to renew his contract. He gave his reasons as to why he thinks teams will struggle to achieve immediate results with a launch-spec car.
“It’s not because of the quality of people we have here, but because we started late and then took a two-month hiatus to do the upgrades in Austin,” Komatsu said.
“It was a real waste of resources and we lost time there, but the team is doing well in the wind tunnel so that’s positive and we’re moving in the right direction in terms of properties. I’m here.”
The team has historically struggled to keep up in the development war, while last year saw its cars suffer from excessive tire wear, ultimately causing them to fall from favorable racing positions.
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg will provide feedback during pre-season testing and will play a key role in understanding the VF-24 from the offset.
“The focus is to have a good test program in Bahrain so that the team can finish testing with quality data to analyze and understand the direction in which to develop the car. It means understanding exactly the strengths and weaknesses of the 24 and having a consistent plan for updating the car, something that has never been done before,” Komatsu explained.
“The driver will also play a stronger role. Last year, the subjective feedback from the drivers was clear about the weaknesses of the car, but we were not able to incorporate them into the car’s development program.
“With the changes we have made to the team, we aim to address this issue with the driver within the loop of the development path so that nothing is lost. I have it, but there’s one thing I can’t do.”