Ayao Komatsu: "We try to keep it as clean as possible"
F1 News
Haas Team Principal admits that Kevin Magnussen needs to be more careful with his driving, with him now having 10 penalty points on his license, with 12 giving him a race ban. He had zero before the start of the season, meaning they won't reset until 2025.
Magnussen has come under heavy criticism after his aggressive defending from Lewis Hamilton in the Miami sprint race. He also picked up penalty points from the incident which ended Logan Sargeant's race.
His team principal Komatsu was asked if he had asked his driver to calm down on track in order to avoid a race ban. "Yes, I mean, he doesn't want to get a race ban either." Komatsu said, "So, of course, we spoke about it, you know, away. From the race circuit and then, yes, this weekend, of course, we try to keep it as clean as possible. He has to be cleaner than, let's say, his baseline clean, if you like. But, yes, of course, he's aware, we are aware. So it's not our intention to get him a race ban. So, yeah, we'll see."
Will it affect Magnussen's chances of staying with the team?
Komatsu was also asked whether this would affect Magnussen's chances of staying in the team for 2025, with Haas still having two seats available. "I don't think it's defined by one race. Of course that he once trying his best to help Nico in his mind and then whether we completely agree with that methodology or not is another matter.
"Then again like I said I spoke to Kevin in private, away from the track, no pressure, a very good conversation. So we understand each other completely and then honestly like this year, Kevin's so engaged from bar to go he understood what he needed to do to help the team and what he did in Jeddah as well was amazing. So yes, ok, it wasn’t the cleanest race from him, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s been an amazing team player and [he is] contributing to the team."
Nico Hulkenberg will leave the team at the end of the season and move to Kick Sauber. Oliver Bearman completed FP1 with the team in Imola, and has been linked to a full-time drive for Haas in 2025.