Motor racing-Komatsu replaces Steiner as Haas F1 team principal (updated)

Komatsu

10/01/2024 17:17

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      Steiner leaves Haas with immediate effect
    

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      Japanese engineer Komatsu takes principal role
    

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      New COO to be appointed 
    

  
    By Alan Baldwin
       LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Formula One tail-enders Haas
announced the shock departure of colourful team principal
Guenther Steiner on Wednesday and promoted long-serving Japanese
engineer Ayao Komatsu as his replacement.
    The U.S.-owned outfit, who slumped to 10th and last in the
2023 constructors' standings with only 12 points, said in a
statement that the 58-year-old Italian-American had left with
immediate effect.
    There was no comment from Steiner. 
    Sources told Reuters that technical director Simone Resta,
who previously worked for engine providers Ferrari, had also
left the team.
    Steiner became a fan favourite thanks to the Netflix
docu-series "Drive to Survive" in which he features prominently
with outbursts of swearing and devastatingly frank and
unfiltered assessments.
    The departure of a cult hero, unless he pops up again
elsewhere in the paddock, will be a blow for many of those
recently attracted to the sport.
    Steiner led Haas into Formula One on their debut in 2016 and
ranked as the third longest-standing principal after Red Bull's
Christian Horner and Mercedes' Toto Wolff.
    Team owner Gene Haas ultimately called the shots, however,
and made clear that his team's current performance was not
acceptable.
    "Moving forward as an organization it was clear we need to
improve our on-track performances," he said in the statement,
thanking Steiner for his work and wishing him well for the
future.
    "In appointing Ayao Komatsu as team principal we
fundamentally have engineering at the heart of our management."
    Komatsu, 47, has also been with the team since the beginning
after previous stints at British American Racing (BAR), Renault
and Lotus.
    He will take responsibility for overall strategy and track
performance.
    The team said a European-based chief operating officer will
be appointed to manage all non-competition matters and
departments.
    "We have had some successes but we need to be consistent in
delivering results that help us reach our wider goals as an
organization," said Gene Haas. 
    "We need to be efficient with the resources we have but
improving our design and engineering capability is key to our
success as a team. 
    "I'm looking forward to working with Ayao and fundamentally
ensuring that we maximize our potential. This truly reflects my
desire to compete properly in Formula One."
    Haas have yet to win a grand prix and their best season was
2018 when they finished fifth overall.
    "We obviously haven't been competitive enough recently which
has been a source of frustration for us all," said Komatsu.  
"We have amazing support from Gene and our various partners and
we want to mirror their enthusiasm with an improved on-track
product."
    The 2024 season starts in Bahrain on March 2 after testing
from Feb. 21-23.

 (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ed Osmond)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))