They collaborated until 2020, at which point Grosjean departed from Haas and Formula 1 following a harrowing crash in Bahrain, while miraculously surviving. Komatsu continued as one of Steiner’s key deputies and has now taken on the role vacated by the former chief.
Expressing joy for his friend and former colleague, Grosjean wishes Komatsu success in his new position. Grosjean highlights their close friendship, having worked together in all of his 181 Formula 1 races, and notes their shared experiences as parents. Despite acknowledging the substantial challenge ahead, Grosjean conveys his excitement for Komatsu’s new role and extends well-wishes to the departing chief, Steiner.
Grosjean accurately observes the significant undertaking that Komatsu faces in leading a Grand Prix team for the first time. Haas’s disappointing finish at the bottom of the 2023 constructors’ standings contradicted expectations of improvement following a substantial financial injection from main sponsors MoneyGram.
Acknowledging that Haas does not have a significantly smaller budget than other teams, the owner admits that their existing funds were not utilized effectively under Steiner’s leadership. He emphasizes the need for efficient spending to ensure the team’s survival in the series, pointing out that Haas has managed to endure for eight years, unlike other new teams that spent their money rapidly and went out of business.
While confident about the team’s survival, the owner expresses a desire to not only endure but thrive in the next decade, underscoring the importance of judicious spending and efficiency to achieve long-term success in Formula 1.