‘We've got a good foundation to grow’ – Haas’ journey to 200 Grands Prix and where the team can go from here

Haas became Formula 1's first American-led team in 30 years when they debuted in Australia a decade ago. Fast forward to this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix and Gene Haas' operation have become part of the furniture as they line up for their 200th race.

"I can't believe it's been 10 years," said boss Ayao Komatsu, when we sat down for a chat on the team's balcony overlooking the paddock. "We don't count the races, but 200 races, what a journey. I still remember day one in 2016 like yesterday, so it's something we should really be proud of, it's a huge milestone for us."

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Succeeding in Formula 1 is not easy. In the recent years before Haas joined the sport, Marussia, Lotus and HRT came (briefly) and went. But Haas bucked the trend.

Founded by Nascar team boss Gene Haas and led by former Jaguar managing director Guenther Steiner, the team scored points on debut with Romain Grosjean and have since become a strong force within the sport's competitive midfield.

"I hope he's really proud," said Komatsu of Gene Haas. "He's a true racer. All he cares about is for us to be competitive and he had a commitment to come to F1 when it wasn't like this 10 years ago.

"He came in, put his own money, his own company behind it, and then created this team. He's not interested in selling it at all, he's 100% focused on taking this team to the next step, so I'm really glad that we have an owner like that really behind us, pushing us."

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'Almost everything had to shut down...'

Throughout their time in the sport, Haas have been the smallest team on the grid, both in terms of personnel and budget. They've regularly punched above their weight – but also gone through some really tough times, including their first (and as yet only) point-less season in 2021 and the battle (like many of their rivals) to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I think our first race in 2016, scoring that point on the debut [was a highlight]," Komatsu said. "Literally coming to Australia, everybody was on their knees. Car build was tough, pre-season testing was really tough, then get to Australia, that's the first time we're actually building two cars at the same time, so that's a huge pressure.

"And then to score that amazing point, great, and then going on to the next race, then we executed that amazing three-stop race with Romain P5, that was incredible. Since then we've had amazing P4, P5 in Austria, a pole position with Kevin in Interlagos – just so many moments I look back and I'm really proud of everyone in the team.

"2019 was pretty tough because 2016 we started very well and 2017, 2018 we are making progress and 2019 we started okay, but then our development didn't work and then we never solved it.

"So the team actually went backwards during 2019, and I didn't feel like we are really addressing the issues and we are going forward, so 2019 was pretty tough.

"Then Covid happened, almost at the worst point, where the team started having an issue but were not being able to address it, almost everything had to shut down, and then stand still.

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"To survive that period was really, really tough, and I remember some of the guys left after 2021, then they recently came back and said, wow, from that point now, it's just totally different.

"So those were tough days, but I'm really glad that Gene stuck with us, and now the team is improving. Honestly, for me, it really comes down to the transparency, openness, and communication, and not having the blame culture."

'We'd like to establish ourselves at the top of the midfield'

Haas entered the sport with a different model, the American outfit forging a tight relationship with Ferrari that allowed it to legally take a suite of parts from the Italian marque, including their power unit. They also worked with Dallara, who looked after the chassis – and just last year, they added another significant partner in the shape of Toyota.

"I think we've got a good foundation to grow from this point," Komatsu emphasized.

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Komatsu is speaking just over 18 months since he took over as Team Principal as a replacement for Steiner. At the time, the team were at the bottom of the Constructors' Championship having scored just 12 points the previous season.

But having predicted the team would be off the pace after a disruptive off-season, Haas regrouped quickly (having started very early on their 2024-spec car) and scored their biggest points haul since 2018 to take a super seventh, just missing out in their fight with Alpine for P6.

They've remained consistent this year, scoring in four races to sit seventh and just a couple of points behind Racing Bulls. It feels like the team, who got a new motorhome this year for the first time since they entered the sport, are in a very good place after 10 years. What, then, does the next decade hold for the American team?

"We'd like to establish ourselves at the top of the midfield," he said. "Consistently contend in that level. Only when we achieve that level, I think I can think about the next level.

"How do we get closer to the top three, top four teams? You know, but that's something that comes in the next phase. I think we need to just focus on slightly more shorter term. Yes, it's good to have that vision.

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"We don't want to stay where we are. We have a big ambition. We want to get the podium at some point. But if I say to my team, okay, let's get a podium. But how? Without a strategy, it's just a word. It doesn't mean anything.

"It's very important to have that long-term ambition but then having a clear idea of how we can improve the team short-term, mid-term."