Romain Grosjean, former Haas F1 driver from 2016 to 2020, confided his joy to the official F1 website to see his former engineer, Ayao Komatsu, succeed at the head of the team.
The Japanese took over from Günther Steiner at the start of the year to relaunch the American team. And his method, his processes and his reorganization are paying off. Haas F1 is in the running for 6th place in the constructors' championship, after being dead last in 2023.
“I am very proud of Ayao and what he has done with Haas, bringing the team back to a much better level – making the best of the situation and working like he does.”
“I was lucky enough to know before the official announcement [que Komatsu deviendrait le nouveau patron] ; I received a text message from Ayao. I told him I was very proud of him, very proud of everything he did and very happy for him.”
“Of course I didn't know how it was going to go, but it's fantastic. It almost makes me want to race for them again!”
Asked if he always saw Komatsu as more than an engineer, and with the potential to become an F1 team boss, Grosjean added: “No, you never know. It’s a different role, it’s a different approach, there’s also a bit of political and media games.”
“I had no idea how good he was at that part. I knew he could do anything to succeed, but that part was the unknown, and he's doing really, really well.”
