F1 News
Haas face 'whole different challenge' in 2025 as improvement continues
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that his team has made a historic step forward to begin 2025. Since Haas' entry into the sport in 2016, this coming season will be the first where team owner Gene Haas will not have to fork out money from his own pockets. Instead, the team will profit this year.
It feels like Haas has undergone quite the identity shift. Despite their underdog status, the American outfit managed to finish 2024 in seventh place with 58 points. A huge improvement on 2023's 10th place and 12 points.
Speaking in a pre-season press conference, Ayao Komatsu revealed that 2025 will once again be different for Haas. "This year is the first time that, as a company, Gene doesn’t have to put his own money in, so it's great," he began. “We haven’t been hitting the budget cap, [but] we are hitting it this year.
Komatsu highlights a 'different challenge'
"So, we have got a whole different challenge of making sure we stay within the budget cap. It’s great that we finally got here, but in terms of mindset, it’s the same thing as trackside engineering. We really had to change the mindset of everyone, what is acceptable and what we have to strive for. It’s the same with this budget thing."
Haas announced a technical partnership with Toyota at the tail end of 2024. Doubtlessly, this will help the team continue to grow. Haas' facilities are small, and they lack state-of-the-art software like a race simulator. Instead, Haas uses Ferrari's. They also use Ferrari engines and gearboxes. The team is by far the smallest when it comes to team members, too, with just 320. Improved performance and commercial opportunities mean that Haas now must watch what they are spending.
Komatsu: 'We could spend money without worrying about it'
“Before when we were under the budget cap, if we had money, we could spend it without worrying about it. Now we have to make sure we stay within the budget cap. So it’s a whole different mindset. But if you want to be competitive, that’s the minimum where you should be.
“So, finally, it feels like we’re ticking many boxes – start doing TPC, be on the budget cap and be profitable. With the prize money from last year, sponsorship money etc, this year, Gene shouldn't have to put his money in. It’s the first time.”
Haas finished seventh in the constructors in 2024. This season, they have a new-look driver lineup to challenge in the midfield. Esteban Ocon will be driving for the American outfit after leaving Alpine. Young Brit Ollie Bearman is the Frenchman's teammate. Bearman already has a few F1 races under his belt. His first was with Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2024, where he stepped in for Carlos Sainz. The pair will be hoping to help Haas continue improving as the American team continues to build partners and personnel.
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