Haas Formula 1 team principal Ayao Komatsu argues that the squad cannot afford to continue committing errors, despite achieving a crucial double points finish at the Australian Grand Prix. Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen secured ninth and tenth place respectively in Melbourne, adding three points to Hulkenberg’s previous tally from the Saudi Arabian race. Haas once again employed different strategies for their drivers, with Hulkenberg on the Hard compound and Magnussen on the Medium. Hulkenberg took advantage of a Virtual Safety Car period to make a pit stop with minimal time loss, subsequently closing the gap to his teammate. Magnussen willingly yielded his position to Hulkenberg, and both drivers gained an extra place due to George Russell’s late-race crash. However, Komatsu expressed some frustration over the team’s decision to pit Magnussen at the end of the seventh lap, which cost them two positions. Despite this setback, Komatsu praised the flawless pit stops and the drivers’ cooperation during the second stint. He acknowledged that Magnussen’s strategy had been compromised due to the team’s mistake, but commended the Danish driver for immediately complying with the request to switch positions. Komatsu elaborated on how Magnussen’s race was hindered, explaining that Haas opted to react to Albon’s pit stop instead of keeping Magnussen on track. As a result, Albon gained an advantage over Haas, and Ocon also managed to overtake them by extending his first stint. Komatsu emphasized the importance of avoiding such errors in the highly competitive midfield.
Despite witnessing both vehicles earn points for the first time since 2022, Haas slipped down a position in the Constructors’ Championship as Yuki Tsunoda secured seventh place for RB. Komatsu believes that Haas missed an opportunity to exert more pressure on Tsunoda, who advanced a position due to Fernando Alonso receiving a 20-second time penalty. “Tsunoda exhibited superior speed compared to us,” he admitted. “However, had we executed our initial round of pit stops correctly and maintained our pace during the second stint, I believe we could have engaged in a much closer battle with him. Nevertheless, we must first position ourselves in that scenario. Nonetheless, I must acknowledge Tsunoda’s commendable pace today. Nonetheless, I am of the opinion that if we had perfectly supported Kevin, he would have had the opportunity to compete with Tsunoda until the very end. That is the objective we should strive for.”
Oliver Bearman’s remarkable performance during his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, as well as his planned participation in six FP1 sessions with Haas, has raised expectations that he will be on the grid in 2025. However, when questioned about the team’s lineup for 2025, Komatsu remained cautious and emphasized his focus on maintaining the strong start of the American team. When asked about the future of Hulkenberg and Magnussen, he responded, “I have not yet contemplated that. I am aware that the driver market is highly competitive. I will need to address that matter soon. However, at the moment, my complete attention is devoted to fostering teamwork within the organization. Frankly, Kevin’s performance today deserves recognition. His team play was simply remarkable. Truly astonishing.”