Haas rejected the idea that the new Formula 1 regulations served as a ‘reality check’ for the midfield teams. For Ayao Komatsu, the difference with Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing cannot be explained solely by the amount of resources available.
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The top four teams opened a considerable gap over the rest of the grid at the start of the new technical cycle. As a result, midfield teams often rely on problems among the leaders to get a car into the top eight during a GP weekend.
Haas itself is facing difficulties in 2026 and acknowledged that it does not have the necessary resources to promote a quick recovery. Still, Komatsu stated that reducing the financial gap between teams would be a simplistic explanation for the current scenario.
“I don’t think it’s just a difference in resources. That’s too simplistic to say,” said the Haas boss. He cited Racing Bulls, Audi, and Williams as examples that performance does not necessarily follow the level of investment directly.
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Komatsu highlighted that Racing Bulls evolved impressively after a merely reasonable start, while Audi presented a competitive car in its first year as a manufacturer. At the same time, Williams struggled in 2026 after showing better performance last season: “It’s not just a matter of resources. It’s not that simple,” he added.
For the executive, achieving good results requires a broader combination of factors: “To succeed in F1, you need to get everything right. You need the right amount of resources and financial support, but the process also needs to be perfect,” Komatsu concluded, dismissing the interpretation that the current hierarchy is exclusively a consequence of budget differences.
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