Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu says it’s imperative the team continues to grow to ensure the existing workforce is not pushed to breaking point.
Recent additions to the team have increased the size of Haas to around 330 employees, but due to the number of parts it purchases from external suppliers, that is still deemed to be comfortably the lowest total on the grid. As a comparison, Williams lists its total number of personnel as over 1000, and while Komatsu is proud of the work ethic at Haas he says he doesn’t believe it is operating on a level playing field against its rivals.
“I don’t think so, because look at the numbers – 330 people, it’s nowhere,” Komatsu said. “What is amazing about this team is we’re asking a lot from everyone. People are doing one or two or three jobs. The TPC … it was so smooth, no issues, everything on time, like we’ve been doing it for five years. But that’s only because people go the extra mile, being proactive and thinking ahead.
“But I feel bad, I can’t rely on that as a baseline, that’s not sustainable. We cannot drive people to a breakdown. We have to increase the resource capability so we can achieve those things without feeling like you’re going to collapse. Every time we try to improve, the minute you think I’m stabilized, we’re doing more, we’re making improvements. It’s challenging for everyone.
“Yes people are motivated because all those things (recruitment and budget) are positive, they can see the team moving forward – that’s why they go the extra mile. But at the same time, we as top management, need to make sure we provide an environment and resource which is sustainable.
“Still so many things we need to do. We finished P7 – we talked about this year’s target. Yes, the target is P6, but we haven’t achieved that consistent result, so even fighting for P6, P7, fighting for the same position that would be a huge achievement.”
Komatsu says Haas will be at the limit of the budget cap this season in a development that means team owner Gene Haas doesn’t have to put in his own money, and the team principal believes his boss fully appreciates what the team is achieving.
“Gene was very happy at the end of last season. Honestly, I thought he’d be unhappy that we couldn’t get P6, but (in Abu Dhabi) I finished the race and then said thank you to the guys, and by the time I walked out of the back of the garage, I already had a message from Gene congratulating us.
“So that was a that was very nice to hear. So I called him and straight away he just said ‘Many congratulations, it’s an amazing achievement’, which honestly you don’t get often from Gene at all!
“So I was pleasantly really surprised and grateful about his comments. But of course, he’s very competitive. You know, he wants more, of course. So, yes, he’s sitting there, always pushing me to set an ambitious target, but my job is really trying to set a realistic target.”
