New Era Begins for Haas with VF-24 Launch, Komatsu Emphasizes Realism

The unveiling of Haas’ new VF-24 marks the beginning of what the team hopes will be a more successful era under new leadership despite potential challenges. Team boss Ayao Komatsu has adopted a realistic tone acknowledging that the launch-spec Haas is unlikely to be competitive in Bahrain and the team may start the season towards the back of the grid if not last.

The decision to halt development on the VF-24 for two months to focus on the late 2023 Austin upgrade package has left Haas behind but Komatsu believes it was a necessary step to confirm the right direction for the team. The primary focus now is to gather data during pre-test activities and the opening race in Bahrain to understand the car’s strengths and weaknesses for future development.