Grosjean Warns New Haas Team Principal Has 'Huge Challenge In Front Of Him'

Saturday, 13 January 2024 at 05:00

Former Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean warned the new team principal that Ayao Komatsu has an immense challenge awaiting.

Haas F1 team has not made significant progress over the course of the last eight years. The American team's best season was six years ago when they finished fifth in the Championship.

However, no signs indicated the situation was getting better, and so after finishing last in the 2023 Championship, it was announced Guenther Steiner would be replaced in his role of team principal.

The owner of the team, Gene Haas, explained he wanted somebody experienced from within the team rather than taking some team principal from outside who would only shake things up.

Therefore, Ayao Komatsu was appointed as the new team principal. Komatsu is a Japanese engineer who joined the team from day one along with his very good friend Romain Grosjean.

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The Haas team principal formed a close bond with Grosjean during their time together in Renault before the Haas team was established. The French former F1 driver congratulated the newly appointed team principal. According to Race Fans, he said:

"I’m very happy for Komatsu, first of all. He’s a very good friend of mine. I’ve competed at every one of my 181 grands prix in Formula 1 with him working on my car somehow. His kids are the same age as my kids, so we’ve been very good friends, and I’m excited for him."

The new team principal now has to do what Guenther Steiner couldn't for the last couple of seasons. That is to revitalize the Haas F1 team and lift it from the bottom of the Championship while being constrained by a smaller budget than other F1 teams. Grosjean added:

"It’s a huge challenge in front of him, so I’m excited for him. I wish Guenther all the best in his next chapter. He’s definitely a man that’s got a lot of ideas and things to do, but for me the main thing is very happy for Ayao."