Ayo Komatsu: It’s important to stay realistic

The new head of Haas F1, Ayo Komatsu, is pleased with how the start of the season is going for the team…

Question: Ayo, this is your first home race as team leader. How did the Japanese fans greet you?
Ayo Komatsu: We were received very well and warmly. The fans are positive and friendly. Thanks everyone.

Q: You’ve been leading the team for almost a hundred days. How do you evaluate the progress made?
Ayo Komatsu: How can I rate it? There is progress, but it is difficult to say whether it is big enough. I am focused on solving current problems and trying to improve the situation as quickly as possible. I think we are making normal progress, at a pace we can sustain.

Question: How different is the atmosphere at Haas F1 compared to last year?
Ayo Komatsu: Last year was difficult, the car was not competitive, no matter what we did, we knew we would not be able to compete on Sunday. It’s easier now.

The team works together, we have clear goals and a specific strategy. When the car drives, everything is focused on the result, we look for adjustments, try to achieve improvements. We know that even after a failed qualification we can compete for points. The atmosphere is very positive.

Question: What about the development of the car? What are you up to?
Ayo Komatsu: There will be no major updates. But we are preparing gradual, small updates. Some will be released very soon.

Question: Do you have a spare chassis?
Ayo Komatsu: Yes.

Q: You said earlier that the target for Haas F1 this year is eighth place. Given your results today, would you like to strive for more?
Ayo Komatsu: Eighth place is a pretty high target. Yes, now we are in seventh place and in Melbourne our drivers earned points with two cars, but if we evaluate our race pace we are in eighth or ninth place.

Now there is a development race in which we are the smallest team. An eighth place at the end of the season would therefore be an excellent result. It is important to keep calm and remain realistic.

Question: Will we see Oliver Berman behind the wheel?
Ayo Komatsu: Yes. In Imola he will carry out his first training behind the wheel of our car, and in total there will be six such training sessions. I look forward.

Question: Do you see the transition from an engineer to a manager role as an opportunity or as a challenge? And the second question: do you have any special plans for the home race?
Ayo Komatsu: Before that I was a senior engineer, so I was also involved in management. Of course I’m looking at the bigger picture now, but I like it.

But I don’t do this alone. I have very good, capable people around me who provide me with great support. I am very grateful to them for this. To be honest, I enjoy working in a team the most. When I see that I am giving people opportunities and responsibility, when their eyes light up, I get a lot of positivity from that.

What was the second question? Home race plans? We have to find an approach for the first sector, where our VF24 has problems, to perform as best as possible in qualifying and race as best as possible, putting ourselves in a position so that if something happens we can earn points.