Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has admitted that the American outfit is still “fighting with both hands tied” against Formula 1’s bigger operations, despite the introduction of the sport’s budget cap.
The latter was introduced as the great equaliser, a financial reset designed to give smaller teams a fighting chance against the sport’s giants.
But Komatsu insists Haas are still battling with a major handicap as it remains unable to operate at the spending limit, leaving the team’s workforce at a disadvantage against rivals with significantly larger structures and resources.
With the 2026 cost cap set at $215 million – excluding driver salaries, the three highest-paid team members and several other expenses – Haas is still searching for the additional funding required to fully exploit the regulations.
For Komatsu, the issue is not the talent within the organisation. It is the lack of resources available to unlock that potential.
Haas’ progress limited by missing resources
Haas’ situation is particularly striking given the team’s impressive start to the season. The squad stunned the paddock by sitting fourth in the Constructors’ Championship after the opening two rounds, helped by Oliver Bearman’s standout performances with seventh place in Australia and fifth in China.
However, as the season progressed, the development race exposed the limitations of Haas’ operation. With a workforce of around 400 people compared with more than 1,000 employees at some rival teams, upgrades have become harder to produce at the same pace.
Asked at last month’s Belgian Grand Prix whether Haas was finally able to spend up to the budget cap, Komatsu was blunt.
“I wish we can. We're not,” he replied, quoted by motirsport.com.
“It's one of the top priorities on my job list to be able to fund this team so that we can operate at the budget cap. Because that's the baseline, right? We should be achieving that first step.”
The Japanese team boss made clear that Haas’ struggles in the development battle are not down to a lack of ability from his personnel.
“We talked about us being outdeveloped. That's not a reflection of, let's say, incapability of our guys,” he explained.
“I think our guys are doing, honestly, a fantastic job. Anybody who knows about Formula 1, knowing our size and resource of the team, and then producing what we are producing, I think they will understand this statement.”
“But I think they are very capable. They work as a team. Their communication is clear. No-blame culture. I think the culture is getting there, and the capability is there. But I'm not, so far, able to give them enough ammunition for our guys to show what they're capable of.”
A team punching above its weight
Komatsu believes Haas’ early-season form was evidence of what the squad can achieve when circumstances align – but also a warning that maintaining that level without additional investment is unrealistic.
“What they [the team] produced at the beginning of this year is completely unexpected. You cannot expect the smallest team to be performing the way that we've been performing beginning of the season in the year of the biggest regulation change. That's not sustainable for us,” he said.
Rather than criticising his organisation, Komatsu has taken responsibility for ensuring Haas has the platform needed to compete.
“So it's not a reflection of our guys, it's more a reflection on my side. I need to be able to get better revenue to this team and provide a better environment for our guys.
“Then, once we've done that, we've got the guys to do it. We've got the drivers to do it. So I'm sure we can come back.”
The team’s recent decline has underlined the urgency. Haas has failed to score points in the last five Grands Prix, with qualifying for Q3 becoming increasingly difficult as rivals continue to bring more frequent and effective upgrades.
Komatsu determined to level the playing field
Finding new financial backing remains a priority, although Komatsu acknowledged that building those foundations will “take time”.
“So, I'm really trying to put that in place as soon as possible,” he added. “But it's not like I just started working on it. We've been working on it. So we're having some very good conversations.”
For now, however, he believes his team is being asked to compete with one arm behind its back.
“But really, honestly, it's not fair on our guys to have that constraint, if you like. It's like they're fighting with both hands tied.”
Read also: Bearman admits losing ‘all level of confidence’ in Haas’ carDespite the difficulties, Komatsu praised the attitude within Haas, insisting that nobody inside the organisation is hiding from its current shortcomings.
“But then when they see our lack of performance or struggles in places like Miami, Barcelona, Spielberg, Silverstone, nobody's hiding from it,” he said.
“Everybody's just talking, ‘OK, what's the problem? How have we missed it? How did we get into this situation? How are we going to improve?’ And that's something I really respect. So I'm really just determined to give them the environment they deserve.”
For Haas, the message is clear: the ambition is there, the people are there, and the drivers are there. The missing ingredient is the financial firepower to finally let them fight on equal terms.
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