In a candid interview, Haas’ new Team Principal, Ayao Komatsu, has openly criticized his predecessor, Günther Steiner, for what he perceives as a series of excuses that masked the team’s failures in recent years. Komatsu, who took over the role this season, revealed that team owner Gene Haas had grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress and cohesion under Steiner’s leadership.
Komatsu, who has been with the team since its debut in 2016, observed firsthand the dynamics between Steiner and Gene Haas. He noted that Steiner often provided justifications for the team’s struggles, from the impacts of COVID-19 to the supposed need to prepare for future seasons. However, Komatsu believes these excuses prevented the team from addressing fundamental issues that have plagued them since 2019.
“The reason Gene got frustrated over the years is that there was always some excuse,” Komatsu told RacingNews365. “For 2023, there is no excuse, and what happened this year is because we didn’t fundamentally address the issues of 2019. That’s people being in denial, pointing the finger at certain things, and we were never working properly as a team.”
Haas initially showed promise, especially in 2018 when they finished fifth in the Constructors’ standings, outperforming established teams like McLaren and Williams. But since then, the team has endured a string of disappointing seasons, coupled with off-track controversies like the ill-fated sponsorship deal with Rich Energy.
Steiner’s tenure and the internal dynamics at Haas were famously documented in Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” leading to speculation about the team’s future. However, Komatsu emphasized that Gene Haas remains committed to the team’s long-term success.
“Gene’s commitment is completely long-term, he is 100% focused on performance,” Komatsu stated.
Looking ahead to 2025, Haas is gearing up for a fresh start with a new driver lineup, featuring Esteban Ocon and Ferrari-backed Oliver Bearman. The team’s continued partnership with Ferrari and the leadership shift under Komatsu have sparked optimism for a return to form.
Photo from Günther Steiner Instagram
