Komatsu details key Haas investment requirements

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has detailed the squad's owner Gene Haas is only willing to invest if his outfit performs to a high standard.

The American squad has spent several years competing down the F1 pecking order but has enjoyed an uptick in form this season.

After the opening 14 rounds, Haas has bagged 27 points - lifting it to seventh in the constructors' championship which would mark its highest result since the 2018 season.

Haas' best spell this year came in Great Britain and Austria as it scored 20 points across the two race weekends.

But speaking exclusively to RacingNews365, Komatsu detailed he was gaining Gene Haas' trust to deliver an investment boost in the team prior to the strong haul of points.

“Even before those two amazing race results, Gene already gave me go ahead on a few things that we've been trying to get approval for,” Komatsu said. 

“So even without those two results, we were gaining Gene’s trust back. And then of course, those results massively help as well.

“Sometimes I call it baby steps because of course I want to move quickly - but there is only a certain speed we can move at without having a dip. So that's a difficult balance.”

Haas' new motorhome

Included in the investment from Gene Haas is the construction of a new and upgraded motorhome for the paddock.

The facility will replace the unit that has been used since the squad's debut in 2016.

“That's a significant investment,” Komatsu stated. “We’ve had this one from day one. 

“We tried to get approval last year but that didn't happen because car performance wasn't there. 

“Gene is always like telling me, ‘I will invest, I don't mind investing at all, as long as we are performing and as long as we are improving’.

“So that's important that that was clear to me, that message from day one that I need to do things in parallel.”

Haas anticipating development snag

As Haas continues to develop its car, Komatsu is expecting the team to run into obstacles, as has been the case for other teams.

However, the 48-year-old asserted the squad is well-equipped to overcome the difficulties should they arrive. 

“Being transparent and honest about it, the understanding is improving,” he said.

“Silverstone proved what we were doing was correct. There's always a danger at some point that you're in the same struggles as other people with the bouncing, but we are very aware of it.

“At some stage, even though we believe that our metric will catch it, we may not catch it - but as and when that happens, we have a clear, we are developing with that in mind. If and when that happens, it won't be a surprise to us, then we should know how to deal with it.

“We are already recruiting but those people haven't started. Gradually we are increasing the resources and  Gene has been investing in the team in many ways. 

“Some ways are more visible, some less visible, but again, those investments need time to have an impact.”