Haas Formula 1 boss Ayao Komatsu thinks the team’s performance on one of its worst circuits in Suzuka shows it can be in the mix for consistent points across 2024.
The American outfit was unable to make it three consecutive races in the points as an anti-stall issue on the standing restart cost Nico Hulkenberg several positions.
However, Komatsu has still taken huge encouragement from Haas’ pace in the race in Japan, despite losing further ground to RB in the Constructors’ Championship.
Both Komatsu and Hulkenberg mentioned ahead of the weekend that Suzuka would be an ultimate test for the VF-24 car as the track “exposes the car weaknesses”
“Suzuka, in terms of our strengths and weaknesses, this circuit really exposes the weakness of our car, so if we can do that at this circuit, it’s positive,” explained Komatsu.
“Then we are trying to bring the new parts aggressively to the future races, so that should add performance to the car, that should make the whole thing better.”
“Nico without that disastrous start, he would have scored points, so that is really positive.”
“The honestly encouraging thing is we could race this much on this circuit, I wasn’t expecting that.”
Despite the positives, the Japanese engineer explained there are still areas to improve for the American based outfit with developments to its 2024 challenger.
Komatsu highlighted overall downforce in high-speed corners as a notable weakness the Kannapolis-based squad will seek to address in the coming months.
“Ultimately, as you can see, high-speed downforce, we haven’t got enough, so that’s what we need to improve, and then certain characteristics on the front axle blocker, we need to improve, but honestly, this is our worst circuit,” said Komatsu
Komatsu rued a missed chance to score in Japan as Hulkenberg’s aforementioned problem meant that he lost six places on the restart following the nascent red flag.
The veteran German’s hopes of recovering were dealt another blow when Yuki Tsunoda got ahead in the pits, with Hulkenberg ending up 5.5 seconds behind the RB.
“It was a last-minute call, we basically reacted to [Valtteri] Bottas, so we didn’t, we wanted to be on the same lap, we didn’t want to be that behind,” Komatsu explained.
“So they made a call, and then we reacted to it, but in a very short space of time, and so guys weren’t ready.
“And then because we are the first garage in the pit entry this time around, so it’s kind of like worst of both cases, so we lost time, we still came out in front of Bottas, but we lost two positions, which is quite frustrating.”
Looking ahead to the next round in China – at a circuit where F1 hasn’t visited since 2019 due to Covid restrictions – Komatsu reckons Haas has scope to improve.
Komatsu cited how the set-up on both cars during the Japanese GP weekend was far from optimal, which will prove a “challenge” with the Sprint format in Shanghai.
“I think judging by this weekend, for instance, we didn’t set up very well this weekend, so FP1 our car balance wasn’t right, and then we had a wet session in FP2, so we lost a session, then that meant we are behind on FP3,” Komatsu admitted.
“Of course it’s a similar challenge, you know, Shanghai is Sprint weekend, so you have to get it right from FP1
“So that is a challenge for us, but we learnt a lot this weekend, in terms of how we can improve operationally, set up all the car, reacting to the situation, there’s lots and lots of things to improve
“But again, with enough positives, so we focus on that, and then trying to get the start car right for Shanghai,” the 48-year-old concluded.
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