Again in January, the Haas Method 1 workforce gave the impression to be reeling. Guenther Steiner’s removing as workforce principal was a significant shock, and it was swiftly adopted by affirmation that technical director Simone Resta had additionally departed.
Lower than two months earlier than the beginning of the brand new season, Haas was set for brand new administration each on the general workforce aspect but in addition the technical division that juggles the Ferrari partnership with Dallara manufacturing.
It was hardly a shock to listen to Steiner’s substitute Ayao Komatsu setting extraordinarily low expectations of the place the workforce could be initially of the yr. 2023 had ended with Haas unable to beat excessive tire put on and poor race tempo, typically seeing sturdy qualifying performances adopted by an inevitable and irritating slide to the again of the sphere. So, heading into the brand new marketing campaign, Komatsu stated: “Out of the gates in Bahrain, I nonetheless suppose we’re going to be in direction of the again of the grid, if not final.”
There was one thing else that Komatsu needed to spotlight, although, and it was the particular person tasked with transferring the workforce ahead from a automotive growth standpoint.
“Our new technical director is Andrea De Zordo,” Komatsu famous. “He was the chief designer beforehand and is a really technical particular person. His communication is nice, he’s very engaged and he listens to folks, so I’m very pleased about that appointment.”
De Zordo had labored carefully with Resta prior to now however was additionally somebody who had expertise of what went fallacious with Haas’ main improve at Circuit of The Americas final yr that set the workforce again each within the short-term in addition to in its growth of its 2024 automotive. In some ways, he couldn’t lose. Haas had completed backside of the constructors’ championship with the slowest automotive in races, so the one means was up.
“After all it was a recent begin, as a result of plenty of issues modified — the group, the best way of working — so there was a sure change multi functional go, not prefer it was deliberate out earlier than,” De Zordo tells RACER. “It’s important to adapt to that alongside a brand new job for me and Ayao, and so it was a really demanding time. However the factor is I had a great relationship with Ayao earlier than and I’ve a great relationship with him now. We work collectively I feel fairly effectively.”
The working relationship with Komatsu was one thing De Zordo wanted to think about, as he admits he had some trepidation about taking over the technical director function for the primary time. From the surface, a promotion may at all times appear like a constructive step, however the actuality is it comes with added accountability and recent unknowns that may be daunting if you find yourself pleased in your current function.
A robust working relationship with Komatsu helped De Zordo (at proper) get off to a quick begin in his new function. Andy Hone/Motorsport Photographs
“It was one thing utterly not anticipated. The day they requested me to tackle the function, I awakened within the morning and I didn’t even consider that,” he admits. “It was a really, very huge shock. After all I used to be scared initially — very scared — as a result of it was an enormous bounce. So I believed fastidiously about that; I used to be unsure firstly, after which I accepted the proposal.
“The primary month was very, very busy. You actually really feel the stress in your abdomen. You get up every morning and also you say, ‘I hope to have the ability to do it.’ After which day after day you notice that you simply can do it and also you get used to it. You are feeling extra comfy, and now I’m fairly proud of the function. I prefer it. I really feel the stress — it’s very, very troublesome.
“After all, I’m not the most effective particular person to say if I’m doing a great job or not, however I’m pushing as arduous as I can.”
Whereas credit score must go to Resta and the remainder of the technical group for the work executed as much as the purpose that De Zordo was promoted, the on-track performances will surely counsel he’s doing greater than a great job. The Italian has overseen an improve bundle that had a transparent affect on the British Grand Prix — the second consecutive race Haas secured a top-six end — however he says the affect of final yr’s struggles shouldn’t be underestimated because the workforce was in a position to determine the route it must be working in.
“We did plenty of work for the race efficiency. I feel to see that this yr we’re even sooner in races than we’re in qualifying is sort of satisfying,” De Zordo says. “It means we’re working in the suitable route … We’re constantly within the battle.
“It’s a contribution of some elements, and should you miss one in every of these then it doesn’t work, even when the remainder is nice. Final yr we misplaced rather a lot in key areas, and after we checked out that, we began to regroup.
“We did plenty of work over the winter to enhance in all of the areas we all know now we have to enhance and eventually it really works — should you go trackside it really works — and likewise the best way we work modified. So it’s not solely {hardware} or drivers, it’s additionally method. We perceive much more, and even now it’s much more clear what now we have to do to go sooner and transfer ahead.
“We attempt to assault in all places. After all with this regulation the ground is the principle factor, and the way the ground interacts with the remainder of the automotive. So the principle focus is on that, however there are additionally plenty of particulars within the automotive that we’re not utterly proud of and we all know we will enhance.
“Possibly it’s not an enormous factor, however a element right here and a element there, possibly you don’t see it within the wind tunnel however you recognize if it’s not proper then it may value you effort and efficiency. So we attempt to put our consideration in all places — huge [update] packages but in addition small particulars.”
The change in management initially of this yr was adopted by additional concentrate on the intentions of Gene Haas and his dedication to Method 1, that have been quickly proven to be as critical as ever. Further backing adopted for Komatsu as he started to point out that the funding was being effectively spent, and De Zordo is in an identical place.
An inventory of areas that the automotive growth workforce wish to see a rise in sources for is being put collectively, as a result of the technical director is conscious that the present aggressive image might look very completely different in only a few months’ time given the potential of the others on the grid.
“For me the goal should be to enhance. It should be,” De Zordo says. “I feel there are a few groups this yr which are underperforming, and it means if we wish to sustain the tempo subsequent yr we should enhance and never think about that another person will possibly not enhance. So for me the goal should be to be on the high of the midfield. To do this, we nonetheless must make a step.”
The tightening of F1’s midfield has benefited Haas, however De Zordo is aware of the workforce must combat to maintain its upward trajectory going. Steven Tee/Motorsport Photographs
Like all of these answerable for automotive initiatives, subsequent yr is combating for consideration amid the looming alternatives that exist when the 2026 laws come into impact. Haas has a current observe file of sturdy begins to new guidelines cycles, and De Zordo has a transparent objective in thoughts for his first set of latest laws.
“I’ve considered it a couple of occasions myself, that each change of laws we did effectively,” he says. “I feel the most effective outcomes of the final three years have been the primary race of the brand new laws. However I don’t wish to rely on that. We all know that it’s very troublesome, and for a workforce comparable to us, with smaller sources, it’s much more troublesome.
“As we method the following problem, the following technology of automotive, we should spend the time understanding what the principles are asking, what the probabilities are. As a result of with these laws we’re doing effectively, however on the identical time I notice that another person did higher.
“My private opinion is that one of many huge benefits for Pink Bull is taking the suitable path from the start, and holding creating in the suitable path. All the opposite groups at some stage needed to change route, to lose efficiency and regain it, and catch up.
“So to start out from the start, selecting the best path is key. Even when you must spend some extra time on it, even should you get to the primary race not as effectively ready as you have been prior to now however being on the suitable path, then the efficiency will come finally.”
If the trajectory of 2024 is something to go by, there’s no cause to consider De Zordo isn’t the particular person to information Haas onto that path over the following few years.
