Haas Formula 1 team boss Ayao Komatsu has expressed that the team’s primary focus during Formula 1 pre-season testing is to verify whether they have resolved the tire difficulties that plagued them last season. After F1 transitioned to ground effect cars in 2022, Haas initially showed promise but ultimately finished last in the Constructors’ Championship. The American outfit struggled with a car that had reached its development limit, and even after introducing a revised concept towards the end of the season, their fortunes did not improve. Komatsu acknowledges that Haas may start the new campaign at a disadvantage due to their late adoption of the downwash sidepod solution in October. However, the Japanese engineer, who recently took over from Guenther Steiner, remains hopeful that Haas can make progress in the coming months. Komatsu stated, “Our immediate goal is to make incremental improvements. We have the right ingredients and talented individuals within the team, but we need to work together as a cohesive unit to achieve those improvements. Long-term success will follow as a result. Our first ‘medium-term’ objective is to upgrade to a functional car, which we have accomplished in the past, so I believe we can do it again.” The VF-23 demonstrated occasional bursts of speed over a single lap, but Haas was unable to capitalize on these moments due to excessive tire degradation. Komatsu has revealed that Haas intends to use the three days of testing leading up to the first race to determine if they have addressed the issue that plagued them throughout 2023. He explained, “Our focus is not so much on comparing the different specifications, but rather on addressing the problem we faced last year. It was evident that on Sundays, we struggled to manage the tires for 300 kilometers. That’s what we are concentrating on during the pre-season test in Bahrain.”
“Our testing program in Bahrain is solely focused on gathering the necessary data for our engineers to comprehend the car’s performance and tire behavior. With high-quality data, we can determine the best course of action for improvement and make informed decisions.”
Komatsu has also praised the team’s experienced driver lineup consisting of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, who will be partnering for a second season. “Their working relationship is excellent. While they may have slight variations in their preferences for the car, the core fundamentals align, which is advantageous for the team,” Komatsu stated.
“Their feedback has been incredibly precise and articulate, enabling our engineers to fully understand the car’s issues. They have been instrumental in driving the team’s progress forward. Additionally, their maturity allows them to grasp the bigger picture and their roles in the Friday run program and tire allocations, relieving pressure from the engineering team. It has been highly beneficial.”
According to the Source motorsportweek.com