Haas Must Expand to Protect Staff from Burnout, Warns Komatsu

Haas Must Expand to Protect Staff from Burnout, Warns Komatsu

By Michael Anderson

January 30, 2025 at 11:12 AM

Haas Formula 1 team requires significant expansion to protect its workforce from exhaustion and maintain competitiveness, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu.

Racing team pushes Formula 1 car

Racing team pushes Formula 1 car

With approximately 330 employees, Haas operates with the smallest workforce in Formula 1, significantly below competitors like Williams, which employs over 1,000 people. Despite recent growth, the team's size remains a concern for sustainable operations.

"People are doing one or two or three jobs," Komatsu explains. "While our team shows amazing dedication, this level of workload isn't sustainable. We cannot drive people to a breakdown."

Key points about Haas F1's current situation:

  • The team achieved P7 in the championship despite limited resources
  • Staff regularly perform multiple roles to maintain operations
  • 2025 target is P6, though maintaining P7 would be considered successful
  • Team will operate at the budget cap limit this season
  • Gene Haas, team owner, expressed satisfaction with recent performance

Komatsu emphasizes the need for strategic growth while maintaining realistic targets. "We have to increase the resource capability so we can achieve those things without feeling like you're going to collapse," he states, highlighting the delicate balance between ambition and sustainability.

The team's immediate focus is on expanding resources while protecting its current workforce, ensuring long-term sustainability in Formula 1's competitive environment.

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