With ten races left in the 2024 season, Haas has already outperformed their 2023 season. The American team has more than doubled their points halfway through the season, with the Austrian Grand Prix contributing significantly to this success. Haas team boss, Ayao Komatsu, reflects on this triumphant race for his team.
The Haas team boss looks back on the first half of the season with great satisfaction. The American team, with 27 points, is currently fifth in the constructors’ championship. In 2023, Haas gathered no more than 12 points throughout the entire season, making the start of the summer break already more successful than the previous year.
The most successful race for Haas in 2024 so far was the Austrian Grand Prix. Nico Hülkenberg finished sixth, while Kevin Magnussen crossed the finish line in eighth place. “That was amazing,” reflects Haas team boss Komatsu, in an official Haas F1 video. “We had scored points earlier in the season, but we were always just making it into the top ten.”
Unexpected Points for Haas Drivers
Before the race, Haas did not anticipate that both of its drivers would finish in the points. “The car was okay, but it was always on the edge of scoring points. That was very frustrating,” explains Komatsu about the situation leading up to Austria. The team, therefore, decided to approach things differently in Spielberg.
Strategy Made the Difference
At the Red Bull Ring, it was ultimately the strategy that made the difference. “In Austria, with the same car, we managed to execute everything perfectly. The team wanted to make an early pit stop, which I was quite skeptical about. The degradation on the circuit made that difficult,” explains the Japanese team boss. “But the strategy worked. We went for it, and we were able to drive in clean air throughout the race in Austria. That was a huge advantage, as it played to the strengths of our car. It was truly amazing and encouraging.”
