Wednesday’s announcement of Steiner’s sudden departure only a month out from the 2024 F1 season got here as a shock for a lot of, with Haas naming Ayao Komatsu because the successor to the charismatic star of Netflix’s Drive to Survive collection.
Because the mud settles on the information, we contemplate among the critical questions and ramifications going through Haas, and what they imply for the workforce’s future prospects on the eve of a brand new F1 marketing campaign.
Will issues be any higher underneath Komatsu?
Komatsu’s technical and engineering strengths may allow Haas to be extra environment friendly than underneath Steiner’s management, and that’s one thing proprietor Gene Haas appeared to allude to when he confronted the F1 media for the primary time for the reason that information broke. In spite of everything, Haas believes the workforce has underachieved.
“I believe Guenther had extra of a human-type method to the whole lot with individuals and the way in which he interacted with individuals, he was excellent at that,” Haas advised F1.com.
“Ayao could be very technical, he seems to be at issues primarily based on statistics – that is what we’re doing unhealthy, the place can we do higher. It is a totally different method.
“We actually do want one thing totally different as a result of we weren’t actually doing that properly. Like I mentioned, all of it comes all the way down to eight years in, lifeless final. Nothing extra I can say on that.”
Maybe McLaren’s unimaginable 2023 mid-season turnaround led by Andrea Stella, who comes from the same background as Komatsu, and just like the Japanese engineer isn’t a standard workforce principal determine, has impressed Haas’ new method.
It’s clear they now need engineering experience to drive them forwards.
However there isn’t a assure that such a seismic change will end result within the desired finish aim. If no additional funding is made, Komatsu will in the end must function on the identical sources as Steiner did.
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Alarm bells are additionally ringing over the present standing of Haas’ 2024 challenger, with Haas admitting that’s his “greatest concern” heading into the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
“My greatest concern is after we go to Bahrain, we have to present up with a automotive that is able to go,” Haas mentioned.
Haas hope the VF24 is not going to be a hangover of its predecessor, which recurrently starred over one lap in qualifying, solely to plummet down the sector in embarrassing trend on race days.
Tyre degradation and race tempo proved to be Haas’ Achilles’ Heel final season, in addition to the supply of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg’s frustration.
Confidence within the design division is not going to be at an all-time excessive, both, given Haas’ main improve in 2023 proved to be a failure, leaving the drivers ending the marketing campaign operating break up packages because the workforce tried to know which route was higher, with no clear and apparent final result.
Changing their different massive departure
Barely overshadowed by the information of Steiner’s exit was the departure of Haas technical director Simone Resta.
Resta is to return to Ferrari – however reportedly not the F1 division – upon the expiry of his mortgage deal at Haas, which concluded on the finish of 2023.
No alternative for Resta has been named as but and it’s unclear who his successor will likely be. For the larger image surrounding Haas’ future growth planning, this can be a notable concern.
With simply over a month to go till pre-season testing, it’s removed from best timing for Haas to be present process such main upheaval.
A double driver conundrum
Quickly, Haas may also have to think about their driver choices past 2024.
With each Magnussen and Hulkenberg out of contract on the finish of the yr, there could possibly be extra drama in retailer on the American workforce.
After a remarkably quiet driver market with no motion for 2024, the subsequent 12 months could possibly be loopy, with 14 drivers on offers that run out upon the conclusion of the upcoming season.
Will Haas go for some stability at a time of nice uncertainty, or ring extra drastic adjustments with a completely refreshed line-up for 2025 and past?
It stays to be seen whether or not Steiner’s departure may have any affect on who will get the 2 seats at Haas. All the pieces seems open at this very early stage.
