The battle in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship can be just as heated as the Drivers’ title, as teams fight to improve their chances of winning more prize money.
Several teams managed to signifcantly improve their places last year, including Haas who scored 58 points with the help of Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen and Oliver Bearman.
Bearman’s impact was immediate when he scored points at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Hulkenberg was the main points-scorer for the team throughout the season with help from Magussen.
It was a significant improvement for the American team who finished last in 2023, owing to them struggling with a car concept and switching too late into the season.
Haas signed a techncial partnership with Toyota last season which could see it use some of their resources in Cologne, alongside what it already gets with Ferrari, to improve its competitiveness in the midfield.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu has been wary of the threat posed by Williams, and issued a damning verdict on how their rise could impact Haas when speaking to Motorsport-Total.
Ayao Komatsu thinks Haas would have no chance against Williams if they reach ‘full potential’
Williams has generated significant investment as they attempt to recapture their former glory and try to get back to winning championships.
Since James Vowles took over team principal, there has been a clear path for them to get back to winning races with the 2026 ruleset being a key opportunity.
Carlos Sainz was told by Vowles they want to sacrifice 2025 to look ahead to 2026, and Komatsu thinks this could have a big impact on Haas’ standing in the midfield battle.
“If Williams were to reach his full potential, then we could not keep up with them under any circumstances at the moment – never,” said Komatsu.
“I want to get to the phase as soon as possible where we can beat people on our own, without them messing up ourselves – but we’re not there yet.”
Ayao Komatsu fears Haas’ small size risks staff ‘breakdown’
Haas is the smallest team in F1 by number of staff, with only 330 people working for the American team.
Sauber is the next smallest team at 500 staff members, but they are currently holding a recruitment driver ahead of becoming a full works outfit in 2026.
READ MORE: All to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari and Toyota ties
Komatsu has previously raised concerns over staff ‘breakdown’ due to their small size, as the potential for burnout increases.
Haas recently increased their activities outside of F1 weekends by holding their first Testing of Previous Cars run in January, which adds to the workload for the team during the busy pre-season.
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