Haas confirm new tech team line-up

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has confirmed the team's new Technical Director and Performance Director after the launch of the new VF-24.

The American-owned team will look to improve from a disappointing campaign last term where it finished bottom of F1's Constructors' standings.

Former Team Principal Guenther Steiner left in January having been ever-present since Haas' arrival on the grid, with Komatsu assuming the role. But Simone Resta also departed the team, leaving holes to fill in the technical management.

“Our new Technical Director is Andrea De Zordo. He was the Chief Designer previously and is a very technical person," confirmed Komatsu.

"His communication is good, he’s very engaged and he listens to people, so I’m very happy about that appointment. We are now recruiting for our Chief Designer, but I believe we have good internal candidates, so we’ll look to promote internally.

“Another key position is the Performance Director, this is a position that wasn’t there before, but we’ve created it, putting Damien Brayshaw, previously the Head of Vehicle Performance Group, into the role.

"He will oversee and drive the direction for the upgrades together with the aero department and all the other functions that analyse the full-scale car, which is trackside engineering, the Vehicle Performance Group, Tyre Group etc.

"They’re the key changes – we’re getting everyone on board, talking together, and be a part of steering the ship.”

Clear target needed

Komatsu's promotion into the Team Principal role has seen Haas follow a recent trend set by rival teams in which engineering talent has been selected to lead affairs.

Addressing his first month in charge, the Japanese explained: "Obviously it’s been busy, but it’s been really positive. Everyone I speak to sees this as an opportunity to improve.

"I think many people were feeling the same thing – not knowing where this team was going, how it’s going to improve. We need a clear target, vision and communication, and to remove certain barriers that didn’t need to be there.

"Everyone needs to understand what they’re dealing with, how this team is moving forward, and our approach towards how we’re going racing.

“I’m spending a lot of time talking with as many people as I can, sharing that approach and getting feedback.

"Obviously, I’m not trying to do this on my own, quite the opposite. We’ve got good people, so my job is providing an environment that they can flourish in and get the best out of them.

"Everyone is so helpful, motivated, and positive, it’s great.”