Ayo Komatsu: I won’t try to become Gunther Steiner

Haas team boss Ayo Komatsu gave his first interview in his new role on Wednesday. The Japanese specialist met a small group of journalists at the Banbury base and talked about future plans, a new car and that he would not imitate Gunther Steiner’s leadership style.

Ayo Komatsu: “I was overwhelmed in a good way by the support I received from the team after my appointment. Everyone was very positive and I am very happy that we can add even more thanks to the employees who already work with us. We have many very talented professionals and I want to provide them with an environment where they can showcase their best qualities.

Of course I won’t try to become Gunther Steiner. He and I don’t look alike at all, but we got along great. During race weekends we often went out to eat together, not to talk about work, but because we got along well. But I’m not here to become the next Gunther Steiner.

He is a completely different person, and his strengths and weaknesses are different from mine. I’m not trying to be something I’m not, and Gene Haas knows that very well. If he wanted to put another Gunther like him in Gunther’s place, he would have invited someone else, not me. From what I understand, Gene wanted change and I will try to be the best version of myself. Of course I swear a lot too, but I’m not proud of it. I’ll try to control myself.”

Ayo Komatsu said that Gene Haas wanted to see an engineer in the role of team leader and that is why he offered him this job: “When I got the offer, I immediately said to Gene: “You know my experience, so there is no point in focusing on the commercial side and looking for sponsors.” because I’m not good at that.” And he told me that he needed an expert in the technical field, someone who paid attention to the technical side of the organization so that the team could improve.”

Komatsu added that no major changes are expected within the team in the near future: “I am confident that we can do better with what we already have at our disposal. Everything we learn in 2024 will help us determine the future direction of our work over the next five, eight, ten years.

Now Gene wants us to get rid of tenth place. I believe you have heard how unhappy he is with our current positions. But who will be happy with last place? Such results are of course disappointing.

I think it’s positive that Gene isn’t happy with our results. It’s one thing if everyone on the team thinks it’s okay to be last, and Gene would be happy with this state of affairs too, but this is not our case. Everyone is extremely motivated and Jin is very serious. He wants the team to improve and we are ready to do that together.”

Speaking of the new car, Ayo Komatsu did not hide that the team is facing a difficult start to the season: “The 2024 car was a clear step forward, but I don’t think this will be enough since we started working gone. car free late.

We had to change the concept of the car too late and then we dedicated some of our resources to modernizing the car for the Austin round. I am realistic about the capabilities of the car we will bring to Bahrain, but I have no negativity whatsoever. It’s not our engineers’ fault; they are all good people.

Whatever car ends up in Bahrain, whatever problems we encounter, the key will be to understand its characteristics and then move on.

You know, we’re a small team, so we have to work together. Otherwise we don’t have a chance. To answer the question about the new car directly, I will say that it has become a step forward, but is this enough? No. But we will do everything we can to improve.”