F1 team boss admits doubts over key issues

Ayao Komatsu, Bahrain GP, Haas, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 team boss admits doubts over key issues

The team are still struggling with their car

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Tuesday 12 March 2024 16:00

One Formula 1 team boss in unsure whether his team have fixed an issue which has plagued them for years over the winter.

Haas have started the 2024 season off strongly, with their car strong as ever in qualifying, and dramatically improving in race trim to assist Nico Hulkenberg in managing to score the team's first point at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

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This is despite the American outfit having finished last in the constructors' championship in 2023, prompting a change of team principal, with Guenther Steiner being replaced by Komatsu.

One of the main aspects of Haas' poor season in 2023 was the inability to convert strong qualifying performances into serious points-scoring finishes.

Ayao Komatsu is Haas' new team principal

Nico Hulkenberg claimed points in Jeddah

Haas' tyre degradation problems not entirely fixed

Now, Komatsu has said that, although their new challenger has clearly improved in that aspect, he's not sure whether this will be the case at all races in 2024.

"I wouldn't say we completely got over it," he told Autosport. "We got much better handle on it and then we have a car that is much more consistent, so that helps.

"But our race pace is still weaker versus our qualifying pace, so we still got work to do on that.

"So, I don't think we are completely on top of it. I'm happy with the progress we made, but we really have to stay focused and make sure that we stay on top of it for various different circuits and conditions."

Haas Nico Hulkenberg Kevin Magnussen Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Guenther Steiner Ayao Komatsu