Komatsu racconta come la Haas si sta preparando al 2026, svelando le sfide che la attendono in una stagione di grandi cambiamenti per tutta la Formula 1
The build-up to Haas’ first race of the 2026 season has begun, as the team today unveiled the livery it will race with throughout the year. This season promises to be more than just another page in Formula 1 history—it’s a true turning point. Speaking on the day of the launch, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu described what will be a crucial year not just for Haas, but for the entire paddock.
The dawn of a new era
Despite more than twenty years of experience in the paddock, for Komatsu, 2026 represents the biggest regulatory change ever implemented, as reported on Haas’ official website: “On track, we face a massive regulatory change, both in terms of the power unit and aerodynamics: the biggest in the last 22–23 years of Formula 1. It’s extremely exciting, but at the same time very stressful.“
The new rules demand not only a significant commitment in terms of resources, but also from a financial perspective. For a team of Haas’ size, 2026 represents an even greater challenge: ” The new rules bring economic and resource challenges, and everyone knows we are still the smallest team. No team, not even the biggest, can say they are fully prepared, but for us, the challenge is even greater. “
Komatsu then explained that the pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain will be just a preview of the actual cars we will see on the grid in Melbourne. Between Spain and Australia, the teams will continue developing their cars, making full use of all the time available.
“The car we’ll see in Barcelona will not be the one that races in Australia, and I believe this will be the case for everyone. It’s simply too early. With more than a month before the first race, no one will stop development in the wind tunnel. That’s why the cars we see in Barcelona, and even during the first week of testing in Bahrain, will be less mature than those that will debut in Melbourne.“
Challenges and changes
At Haas, the imperative is clear: make the most of their strengths, learn quickly, and adapt to a new reality as fast as possible. The goal will not be purely sporting, but also technical: “Even before racing, and even before testing, we need to master energy management: it’s the biggest challenge. During the tests, we will see different concepts, and if we’ve overlooked something, we’ll need to react quickly.“
According to Komatsu, with 22 cars on the grid and radically new regulations, the pecking order will initially be fluid and subject to many variations: “There will be significant variability between teams, both due to the power units—teams using the same supplier will likely be close to each other—and the aerodynamics, which are completely unrestricted and developing rapidly. An initial hierarchy could emerge within the first four races, but I expect a very dynamic season: what we see in the first two races will likely be very different from what emerges by the end of the year.”
Photos: TGR Haas F1 Team
