Italian Steiner, a charismatic figure who gained unexpected fame through the Netflix documentary series ‘Drive to Survive’, departed from the American-owned team after his contract was not renewed at the conclusion of last year. Haas, powered by Ferrari, finished in the last position among the ten teams throughout the 22-race season.
During a pre-season event organized by the team’s title sponsor Moneygram, Magnussen expressed his admiration for Guenther, stating, “I have a great rapport with Guenther during my time with Haas, but it’s also invigorating to witness some change. Genuine change.” He further commented on the team’s situation, saying, “I believe it’s commendable that Ayao is already addressing some of the evident challenges we face, such as our lackluster development trajectory over the course of a season… Undoubtedly, these are incredibly thrilling times for us at Haas.”
Appearing alongside Magnussen and teammate Nico Hulkenberg at the newly constructed F1 Drive kart track within Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Komatsu provided a straightforward evaluation of the task at hand. He predicted that Haas would likely continue to reside towards the rear of the grid, if not in last place, during the initial races due to the diversion of resources caused by an upgrade implemented last year, resulting in a two-month setback for this year’s car.
On Thursday, Komatsu emphasized his focus on establishing a clear strategy and disclosed that the team’s objective for 2024 is to secure an eighth-place finish. He stated, “We have implemented changes in our organizational structure and have promoted certain individuals internally to key positions. I maintain an optimistic outlook as there is a multitude of possibilities available to us.”
Komatsu acknowledged that he found himself in his current position unexpectedly, rather than actively seeking the role. He expressed, “Initially, I was content with running a car,” reflecting on his start as a race engineer. “However, after four years, an opportunity arose, and I became the chief race engineer. Subsequently, I joined Haas. Was I actively searching for a new team? No. But when I conversed with Guenther, I was genuinely captivated by his vision and what he conveyed to me. Thus, I decided to embrace this challenge… I never aspired to become the principal and replace Guenther. Not at all.” Komatsu emphasized that it was Gene Haas who made the decision, and due to his extensive knowledge of the team, the talented individuals involved, and the multitude of ideas, he saw no reason not to seize the opportunity.
According to the Source grandprix247.com