Daily News 19

Tag: Ayao Komatsu

  • Haas F1 Confident 2027 Budget Will Approach Cap as New Partner Talks Progress

    Haas F1 Confident 2027 Budget Will Approach Cap as New Partner Talks Progress

    Haas F1 Team Principal Komatsu Reports Positive Sponsorship Progress as Budget Nears Cap

    Haas Formula 1 team principal Ayao Komatsu has confirmed the American squad is making significant progress in its search for additional sponsorship as it works to push its annual budget toward the $215 million cost cap.

    Current Sponsorship Landscape

    As F1’s smallest team, Haas employs just over 400 personnel and has historically operated well below the budget cap in both of its regulatory iterations. The team secured a title sponsorship deal with Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division for the current season, replacing money transfer company MoneyGram. However, Haas continues to actively expand its commercial portfolio to close the financial gap to its competitors.

    Recent speculation has linked Haas with Austrian water technology company BWT, currently the title sponsor of Alpine. BWT is expected to depart the French squad at the end of this season as Alpine prepares to launch a new title partnership with fashion house Gucci for 2027. This is not the first time Haas has been connected with BWT; the company was previously considered a potential partner after ending its deal with Aston Martin in late 2021 before ultimately joining Alpine in search of more prominent pink livery exposure.

    Komatsu Provides Budget Update

    Earlier this year, Komatsu told Sky Sports that budget constraints were preventing the team from expanding its headcount and upgrading its tooling and infrastructure. He emphasized that his primary responsibility was generating additional revenue by attracting new commercial partners.

    Speaking during the Madrid Grand Prix weekend, Komatsu offered a positive assessment of ongoing negotiations with multiple prospective sponsors.

    “We’re talking to so many prospects; it’s getting there. I’d say very positive about next year’s budget,” Komatsu stated.

    “It just helps massively. But I think slowly and surely we are getting our story out there and finding great people. So, yeah, it’s good so far.”

    BWT Rumors Addressed

    When questioned directly about the BWT speculation, Komatsu was unequivocal about the visual identity of next year’s cars.

    “we’re not going to have pink cars, if that’s what you are saying!”

    Driver Selection Remains Performance-Focused

    Komatsu also clarified that commercial considerations would not drive the team’s 2027 driver line-up decisions. Haas has been evaluating several candidates through testing programs in previous-specification machinery, including Ryo Hirakawa, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Rafael Camara. Komatsu estimated five drivers remain in contention, presumably including current race driver Esteban Ocon—whose form has improved recently—and Yuki Tsunoda.

    Asked whether commercial backing would influence the final choice, Komatsu stated it would only become a factor if two candidates were virtually inseparable on pure pace.

    “If it’s within a tenth, for instance, very, very close, then affiliation package does come into play for sure. I don’t think [that will be the scenario]. I think we can choose by performance; we haven’t finished the whole programme yet.”

    Komatsu reinforced that securing the fastest possible driver pairing remains the team’s overriding priority, regardless of academy affiliations.

    “We really want two fast drivers because that’s the best way to grow this team. It doesn’t matter if it’s two Ferrari drivers or two Toyota drivers or two McLaren drivers.”

    “I mean, Fornaroli, he’s a McLaren driver, right? But honestly, it doesn’t matter. Whoever is the fastest, that’s the best for the team.”

    Team Morale and Championship Implications

    The team principal emphasized the motivational impact of performance-based selection on the workforce, while also highlighting the substantial financial value of each constructors’ championship position.

    “Again, for everybody, 400 people working here, they need to know that we’ve got the best driver choice that we can get hold of so that these two drivers are getting the best out of the car. Imagine taking somebody half a second off, but extra money. That’s not going to be very motivating.”

    “And also, one position in the championship. That’s quite a lot of money, right? For us, like I said, I’m staying consistent. I’ve always said we take drivers by performance. That’s what we’re doing.”

    Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team Principal. Photo by Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
  • Haas Updates Car for Monza as Oliver Bearman Remains “sceptical” About VF-26 Performance

    Haas Updates Car for Monza as Oliver Bearman Remains “sceptical” About VF-26 Performance

    Haas has admitted that its rivals have overtaken and out-developed the team during the 2026 Formula 1 season, despite a strong start. Team principal Ayao Komatsu and driver Oliver Bearman remain confident that Haas can close the gap “soon”.

    Haas traditionally begins each season strongly, and it maintained that trend in 2026 by scoring points in the opening three races. That run included a fifth-place finish for Bearman at the Chinese Grand Prix.

    However, the team has since been caught by its rivals as it struggles with an inconsistent car and a slower development rate than midfield competitors Alpine and Racing Bulls.

    “2025 was really the first year for us, or one of very few years, where we seemed to have good pace throughout the year,” Bearman explained ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. “We actually improved our relative performance as the year went on.

    “Now, 2026 is more of what we’ve seen from Haas in the past, of starting incredibly strong with a really quick car as a base, but not being able to improve like the others have.

    “Quite frankly, we’ve been overtaken right now. We are the 10th-best team. It really hurts, myself and all the others. We were working really hard to make that not be the case, but that’s the reality of where we are right now.”

    Haas has not scored points since the Monaco Grand Prix in June, when Esteban Ocon finished ninth. Since then, inconsistency has limited the team’s ability to extract the maximum performance from its 2026 car.

    Haas will not abandon its 2026 Formula 1 car

    Komatsu remains hopeful that Haas can find solutions to the problems affecting its car. The team principal said the organisation has demonstrated over the past two seasons that it has the technical capability to develop its machinery.

    “So, the last two years, I think we proved to ourselves and the outside world that we can develop the car. We’ve got the people, the technical department is functioning,” Komatsu said ahead of the Zandvoort race.

    “For us to have any remote chance of keeping up with the others, because of the size of our team, everything has to be perfect. But that’s just not realistic in anyone’s life. And the Montreal upgrade wasn’t perfect. Some bits worked, some bits made the car faster, but some bits wasn’t perfect. Actually, [it] made the drivability more difficult as well.

    “So, we’re learning from those lessons. And what’s the objective for the rest of the season? For me, it’s the same as the last two years. We’ve got to prove to ourselves that we can identify the key issues, we can solve the issues and then put it on the car to move forward.”

    Haas’s struggles have prompted questions about when the team will stop developing its 2026 challenger and switch its resources to next year’s car. Komatsu said that is not an option, insisting that Haas must unlock the performance of the VF-26. He believes that process will also benefit the team over the longer term.

    “If you say, OK, fine, ‘26, we started well, but tail off, it’s the first year of regulation. Fine, let’s move on, start ’27. We haven’t solved the fundamental issue. If we do that, it doesn’t give confidence to people,” the Japanese engineer explained.

    “They’ve got to believe in themselves. One of the main driving factors in the way they’re tackling now, together as a team, is the confidence and togetherness they’ve gained from the last two years. That’s why we are developing out of it.”

    Haas confirms Monza upgrades for the Italian Grand Prix

    Haas will bring new parts for the VF-26 to Monza this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix as it attempts to develop its way out of its current performance problems.

    “This weekend, we’re bringing another upgrade package to the car,” Komatsu explained in a statement shared by the team. “So again, it’s critical we maximise our practice time, evaluate our data comprehensively, and strive to keep pushing in the midfield.”

    Bearman cautioned, however, that new parts do not always result in an immediate improvement on track. He said Haas has seen significant differences in downforce from one race to another, meaning that improving the car’s consistency could be as valuable as introducing an upgrade.

    “We have new parts coming,” the Briton said. “But we’re very sceptical in some ways. We have discrepancies in a race like Budapest. We have discrepancies of downforce equivalent to the size of an upgrade. If I have the car that I had in Spa, here [in Zandvoort], it’s like putting an upgrade on the car.

    “An upgrade, I don’t know how much it costs, but many millions. If we can figure out how to get our car to work, it’s for free. If we get the upgrade but it doesn’t perform, then it’s like not getting it. There’s many factors at play, it’s a big challenge.”

    Looking ahead to the Italian Grand Prix, Bearman believes Haas can move up to ninth in the Formula 1 constructors’ order. Aston Martin has recently introduced a major overhaul of its AMR26 and moved away from the back of the field, but Bearman expects Haas to hold an advantage at Monza because of the circuit’s power-sensitive layout.

    “We expect to beat [Aston Martin] in Monza, where it’s a power track,” Bearman said. “But in Hungary, they were faster than us, or at least more consistent. Those are the facts in terms of that. That’s where we are.

    “It really hurts to be sitting here saying that, but that’s the case.”

  • Haas Completes Latest TPC Test as Focus Grows on 2027 F1 Driver Lineup Decision

    Haas Completes Latest TPC Test as Focus Grows on 2027 F1 Driver Lineup Decision

    Haas has completed its latest Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, with Ryo Hirakawa, Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara driving the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car as scrutiny of its 2027 driver line-up intensifies.

    As the 2027 F1 driver market gathers pace following the summer break, Haas remains one of the few teams yet to formally settle its line-up for next season. Oliver Bearman appears likely to retain his seat, while Esteban Ocon’s future remains under review as Haas evaluates its available options.

    Haas assesses 2027 driver options at Portimao

    The American team conducted a three-day TPC test at Portimao from 26-28 August. Reserve driver Hirakawa shared driving duties with 2025 Formula 2 champion and McLaren development driver Fornaroli, as well as current F2 title contender and Ferrari junior Camara.

    All three drivers completed laps in the VF-25, Haas’ 2025 F1 car, at the Portuguese circuit. The test followed a similar TPC programme at Fuji last month, where Toyota-backed drivers Sho Tsuboi and Nirei Fukuzumi were given running time.

    Haas has not released further details about the Portimao test, but the programme forms part of its broader evaluation of interested drivers before the team makes a final decision on its 2027 line-up.

    Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

    Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

    “I think it’s really good that other people are actually interested in us,” Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said ahead of the Dutch GP last weekend.

    “At the moment, we’re not performing so well. We cannot challenge for points, but I think it’s nice that other people can see the potential in us. Within the constraint how we’re fighting and we’re trying to improve the team. We just take it as a compliment that other drivers are interested.”

    Komatsu has emphasised that his immediate priority is maximising the performance of Haas’ car and drivers in 2026, suggesting the team will not rush its decision on the future pairing.

    Haas has frequently been among the last teams to confirm its driver line-up for the following season during its relatively short F1 history. With other teams expected to maintain stable driver line-ups for 2027, a similar timeline remains possible.

    “We’re not in any rush,” Komatsu said at Zandvoort. “We’re focused on our two drivers, Ollie and Esteban, trying to get the best out of them. They’ve got the tough challenge, right? You know what they are capable of.

    “Ollie has showed it repeatedly, Esteban, when he is happy with the car, you know what he can do. So we need to really just focus on providing them with the best possible car, best set-up adaptation, and get the best out of them. And then both of our drivers are fully focused. So at the moment, we’re focused on that.”

  • ‘We’re not in any rush’ – Ayao Komatsu Updates Haas’ 2027 F1 Driver Plans

    ‘We’re not in any rush’ – Ayao Komatsu Updates Haas’ 2027 F1 Driver Plans

    Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu Downplays Driver Line-Up Urgency Amid Development Struggles

    Haas Formula 1 Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has stated the team is in no hurry to finalize its 2025 driver lineup, emphasizing that the immediate priority is maximizing the performance of current drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon. The comments come as the American-owned squad endures a difficult mid-season slump following a promising start to the campaign.

    Strong Start Gives Way to Points Drought

    Haas opened the season with competitive form, highlighted by Bearman’s impressive fifth-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix. However, the team’s trajectory has since reversed sharply. A run of six consecutive rounds without scoring points has seen Haas slip down the constructors’ order as midfield rivals—most notably Racing Bulls and Alpine—have outpaced them in the development race.

    The downturn has intensified speculation regarding the team’s plans for the 2027 regulatory cycle and beyond. While neither seat has been officially confirmed for next season, paddock consensus suggests rookie Bearman is more likely to retain his drive than the experienced Ocon. Potential candidates such as Ferrari junior Rafael Camara and Red Bull-affiliated Yuki Tsunoda are widely viewed as waiting in the wings should a vacancy arise.

    Komatsu: Focus Remains on Current Duo

    Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix—where Haas ultimately suffered a double DNF—Komatsu was reluctant to engage with the driver market speculation.

    “We’re not in any rush. We’re focused on our two drivers, Ollie and Esteban, trying to get the best out of them. They’ve got the tough challenge, right?

    “You know what they’re capable of. You know, Ollie has shown it repeatedly. Esteban, when he is happy with the car, you know what he can do.

    “So we need to really just focus on providing them with the best possible car, best set-up adaptation, and get the best out of them. And then both of our drivers are fully focused.”

    The points disparity between the teammates is stark: Bearman has accumulated 18 points to Ocon’s three. However, the rookie recently cautioned that the standings do not accurately reflect their on-track rivalry, citing apparent “inconsistency” between the parts fitted to their respective cars.

    Smallest Team Faces Biggest Regulation Challenge

    Komatsu acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing Haas, the smallest operation on the grid, under the current regulatory framework.

    “This is the biggest regulation change ever. So us being the smallest team, we expect that we’re going to really be struggling to keep up with the other big boys in the development race.

    “We started the season extremely well, much better than anyone can think of, and then from that moment I think that’s the reality. With our constraints, we’re trying to develop the car as fast as possible, but the other guys are putting performance on the car faster than us. That’s the reality.”

    The team principal was quick to defend his personnel, stressing that the deficit is a resource issue rather than a capability one.

    “Then, to be fair, honestly, it’s nothing against the guys in the team – they’re doing a fantastic job, they’re working together, and then for us to have a chance to keep up with the other guys, everything has to be perfect, right? Everything. In life, that’s not something you can ask for all the time.

    “I really do think I need to provide them with a better environment, facilitate it, so that they can show what they’re capable of. I’m sure of that. But the good thing is those tough times show the character, right? And then there’s no blame culture.”

    Engineering Focus: Downforce and Drivability Deficits

    Komatsu outlined the specific technical areas where the VF-24 is underperforming, confirming the engineering group has a clear diagnosis of the car’s shortcomings.

    “We looked at the problem: what’s the issue, where are we lacking downforce, why the drivability is not great, what are the drivers struggling with? We’re all on the same page, trying to fix the issue, trying to put performance on the car. But of course, again, that takes time.”

    He concluded with a message of resilience, drawing on the team’s recent history of overcoming adversity.

    “Lots of things we’re putting in place will take time for it to materialise, but we’ve just got to believe in ourselves, the teamwork, support each other, and we’ll get through it like we did the last two years.”