A brand-new vehicle – even one with a familiar appearance – marks the beginning of Haas’ hopes for a more successful era under new leadership. However, Formula 1’s lowest-ranking team may face challenges before they see improvements.
Haas is optimistic that the new VF-24 will provide a stronger foundation than its previous troubled model. Nevertheless, there are indications that the start of the season may be difficult. The team’s new boss, Ayao Komatsu, has set clear expectations for the team’s performance.
While honesty is admirable – Komatsu’s predecessor, Guenther Steiner, was known for it – it is concerning given Haas’ last-place finish in the championship and the car issues they had to overcome. Switching to a similar car concept as Red Bull and other teams does not guarantee an immediate improvement in performance; in fact, Komatsu predicts the opposite.
Following Steiner’s departure, there was a sense that team owner Gene Haas wanted Komatsu to make immediate progress and lift the team from the bottom of the grid. Initially, Komatsu’s tone was positive, claiming that the 2024 car would be a significant improvement. However, he also acknowledged the need for realism regarding Haas’ chances of challenging midfield teams and suggested that the 2024 car is not as advanced as it should be.
Now that the VF-24 has been unveiled, Komatsu has reinforced his previous statements, going even further. He bluntly states that the launch-spec Haas will not be fast enough in Bahrain, and he expects the team to be the worst at the start of the season. This is a direct consequence of suspending development on the VF-24 to focus on the late-2023 Austin upgrade package, which ultimately did not improve their fortunes.
Komatsu does not argue that Haas should have ignored the interim step and focused solely on the 2024 car. However, this decision has undoubtedly set them back compared to where they could have been if the VF-24 had been their sole focus. Despite this setback, Komatsu believes that the Austin package was necessary to confirm the team’s direction.
The focus now is on gathering as much data as possible during the pre-test filming days, the official pre-season test, and the first race in Bahrain. This will help the team understand the car’s strengths and weaknesses and determine the direction for further development. Komatsu takes a subtle dig at the previous regime, suggesting that Haas lacked a coherent plan for producing updates. The technical organization has been restructured, with new personnel and clearer communication channels.
Komatsu is hopeful that these changes will pay off during the season, with the first major upgrade of 2024 benefiting from the new structure. However, he acknowledges that Haas has existing shortcomings and is starting the year at a disadvantage due to the past 12 months. It would be unwise to expect significant progress from Haas at the beginning of the year, and they have a lot of work ahead of them to address their challenges throughout the season. Despite the demands for instant progress from the team owner, it is important not to underestimate Haas’ potential.