Haas group principal Ayao Komatsu believes constructing belief with Esteban Ocon and ensuring there isn’t a ambiguity about the way in which the group operates might be central to the Frenchman’s success.
Ocon will be part of Haas in 2025 after leaving Alpine, the place his departure was introduced shortly after he was criticized for his position in a collision with teammate Pierre Gasly within the Monaco Grand Prix. Komatsu has partnered Ocon with rookie Ollie Bearman in an all-new Haas line-up subsequent 12 months, and says he has by no means had any main issues between drivers so long as what is predicted of them is made clear beforehand.
“Actually, I feel a lot of it comes right down to transparency, belief after which readability of guidelines of engagement,” Komatsu mentioned. “I feel that issues occur when a sure belief is damaged between group and driver.
“Not in my present place however I’ve been doing System 1 for a fairly very long time – in my varied positions of race engineer, chief race engineer, director of engineering or present place of tam principal – my expertise is that so long as I method them with transparency, no private agenda, a transparent group’s agenda about how we have to undergo this race weekend or this 12 months, what’s the target, what’s the principles of engagement… So long as that’s clarified prematurely, so long as the communication is completely clear then the belief is there.
“When the belief is there then I haven’t truly encountered any points that acquired out of hand. So I’m not fearful, personally. If I used to be fearful then I wouldn’t have chosen this mixture, as a result of it’s my duty that we now have two drivers that work for the very best pursuits of the group. I’ve little question that Ollie and Esteban will ship that.”
Komatsu acknowledges the collision with Gasly in Monaco was one thing he mentioned with Ocon earlier than finalizing the Frenchman’s arrival.
“After all we needed to contemplate it. It’s not prefer it’s gone unnoticed, it’s a reasonably main incident. So I had a dialog with him, and nonetheless made that call. I’m pleased with it.”
Komatsu says he was stunned by how invested within the Haas venture Ocon was as soon as it was outlined to him as a part of negotiations, as he was in a position to appeal to a driver from a works’ group.
“He’s solely 27, he’s nonetheless acquired tons to show, and for me he’s nonetheless acquired superb dedication and work ethic, and once I met him and defined the venture to him about the place we’re and what we’re making an attempt to realize, I wasn’t making an attempt to persuade him, I simply advised him as it’s. After which he simply acquired fully on board, to be trustworthy far more so than I anticipated.
“He was so engaged, he wished to be a part of this venture and he believes on this venture. It means rather a lot to me that we now have a driver – skilled driver – with observe document, nonetheless younger, nonetheless has rather a lot to show, and he fully 100% believes within the venture. I’m sue he’ll give us his all, so I’m actually wanting ahead to it.”
