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Komatsu replaces Steiner as Haas F1 team principal – ARN News Centre
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Formula One tail-enders Haas announced the shock departure of team principal and Netflix star Guenther Steiner on Wednesday, with long-serving Japanese engineer Ayao Komatsu promoted as his replacement.
The US-owned team, who slumped to 10th and last in the 2023 constructors’ standings with only 12 points, said in a statement that the 58-year-old Italian-American had left with immediate effect.
Technical director Simone Resta, who previously worked for engine providers Ferrari, has also left the team.
Steiner became a fan favourite thanks to the Netflix docu-series “Drive to Survive” in which he features prominently with outbursts of swearing and devastatingly frank and unfiltered assessments.
He also released a best-selling book last year entitled “Surviving to Drive, a year inside Formula One.”
The departure of a cult hero, unless he pops up again elsewhere in the paddock, will be a blow for many of those recently attracted to the sport.
“Thanks, Günther. Thanks for taking me on the journey in 2017 and thanks for bringing me on board again in 2022. It has been both fun and tremendously challenging – but never boring,” said the team’s Danish driver Kevin Magnussen on X.
There was no immediate comment from the ex-boss.
Steiner led Haas into Formula One on their debut in 2016 and ranked as the third longest-standing principal after Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Mercedes’ Toto Wolff.
Team owner Gene Haas ultimately called the shots, however, and made clear that his team’s current performance was not acceptable.
“Moving forward as an organisation it was clear we need to improve our on-track performances,” he said in the statement, thanking Steiner for his work and wishing him well for the future.
“In appointing Ayao Komatsu as team principal we fundamentally have engineering at the heart of our management.”
Komatsu, 47, has also been with the team since the beginning after previous stints at British American Racing (BAR), Renault and Lotus, where he was race engineer for French driver Romain Grosjean.
He will take responsibility for overall strategy and track performance.
The team said a European-based chief operating officer will be appointed to manage all non-competition matters and departments.
“We have had some successes but we need to be consistent in delivering results that help us reach our wider goals as an organization,” said Gene Haas.
“We need to be efficient with the resources we have but improving our design and engineering capability is key to our success as a team.
“I’m looking forward to working with Ayao and fundamentally ensuring that we maximize our potential. This truly reflects my desire to compete properly in Formula One.”
Haas have yet to win a grand prix, or finish on the podium, and their best season was 2018 when they finished fifth overall.
“We obviously haven’t been competitive enough recently which has been a source of frustration for us all,” said Komatsu. “We have amazing support from Gene and our various partners and we want to mirror their enthusiasm with an improved on-track product.”
The 2024 season starts in Bahrain on March 2 after testing from February 21-23.
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Tributes have poured in after the son of former Chelsea star Eddie Newton was found dead alongside his friend following a hike in the UAE, where temperatures soared to 50C.
Cassius Newton, 34, and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, were found by rescuers on July 18 after setting out on a hike in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region.
The pair, from Dorset and Essex respectively, both lived and worked in the UAE. Their bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from their vehicle.
According to a report, Chelmsford area coroner Michelle Brown said their provisional causes of death included cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Cassius, a non-league footballer, was the son of former Chelsea midfielder and coach Eddie Newton, who spent more than a decade with the club.
His wife was in the UK when she became concerned after Cassius failed to contact her following the hike and reported him missing.
The two men had been living at a luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah.
Tributes after desert tragedy
Tributes poured in after the deaths.
Aran’s wife described him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious”, saying he had recently begun a new chapter in his career and was excited about the future.
Blackfield & Langley Football Club paid tribute to their former player, saying: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of former player Cassius Newton; our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
National League club Eastleigh, where Cassius had previously played, said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Chelsea connection
Cassius’ father Eddie Newton played for Chelsea from 1990 to 2001 and famously scored in the club’s 1997 FA Cup final victory.
The former midfielder also represented Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Oxford United and Barnet.
After retiring as a player, Newton moved into coaching, working as assistant manager at MK Dons and West Brom before returning to Chelsea.
He later served as assistant manager under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez.
(With inputs from BBC, The Sun)
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