Again in January, the Haas System 1 staff seemed to be reeling. Guenther Steiner’s removing as staff principal was a serious 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 staff facet but additionally 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 for the place the staff could be initially of the 12 months. 2023 had ended with Haas unable to beat excessive tire put on and poor race tempo, usually seeing sturdy qualifying performances adopted by an inevitable and irritating slide to the again of the sector. So, heading into the brand new marketing campaign, Komatsu mentioned: “Out of the gates in Bahrain, I nonetheless suppose we’re going to be in the direction of the again of the grid, if not final.”
There was one thing else that Komatsu wished to focus on, although, and it was the individual tasked with transferring the staff ahead from a automobile growth perspective.
“Our new technical director is Andrea De Zordo,” Komatsu famous. “He was the chief designer beforehand and is a really technical individual. His communication is sweet, he’s very engaged and he listens to individuals, so I’m very blissful about that appointment.”
De Zordo had labored carefully with Resta prior to now however was additionally somebody who had expertise of what went mistaken with Haas’ main improve at Circuit of The Americas final 12 months that set the staff again each within the short-term in addition to in its growth of its 2024 automobile. In some ways, he couldn’t lose. Haas had completed backside of the constructors’ championship with the slowest automobile in races, so the one manner was up.
“In fact it was a contemporary begin, as a result of a whole lot of issues modified — the group, the way in which of working — so there was a sure change multi functional go, not prefer it was deliberate out earlier than,” De Zordo tells RACER. “You must 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 nicely.”
The working relationship with Komatsu was one thing De Zordo wanted to place confidence in, as he admits he had some trepidation about taking up the technical director position for the primary time. From the surface, a promotion would possibly all the time seem like a constructive step, however the actuality is it comes with added accountability and contemporary unknowns that may be daunting if you end up blissful in your current position.
A robust working relationship with Komatsu helped De Zordo (at proper) get off to a quick begin in his new position. Andy Hone/Motorsport Pictures
“It was one thing utterly not anticipated. The day they requested me to tackle the position, I wakened within the morning and I didn’t even consider that,” he admits. “It was a really, very massive shock. In fact I used to be scared initially — very scared — as a result of it was a giant bounce. So I believed rigorously about that; I used to be unsure at the start, 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 understand that you just can do it and also you get used to it. You are feeling extra snug, and now I’m fairly pleased with the position. I prefer it. I really feel the stress — it’s very, very troublesome.
“In fact, I’m not the most effective individual 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 would definitely recommend 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 12 months’s struggles shouldn’t be underestimated because the staff was capable of determine the path it needs to be working in.
“We did a whole lot of work for the race efficiency. I feel to see that this 12 months we’re even sooner in races than we’re in qualifying is kind of satisfying,” De Zordo says. “It means we’re working in the best path … We’re constantly within the battle.
“It’s a contribution of some components, and when you miss one in every of these then it doesn’t work, even when the remainder is sweet. Final 12 months we misplaced rather a lot in key areas, and after we checked out that, we began to regroup.
“We did a whole lot of work over the winter to enhance in all of the areas we all know we now have to enhance and eventually it really works — when you go trackside it really works — and likewise the way in which 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 we now have to do to go sooner and transfer ahead.
“We attempt to assault all over the place. In fact with this regulation the ground is the principle factor, and the way the ground interacts with the remainder of the automobile. So the principle focus is on that, however there are additionally a whole lot of particulars within the automobile that we aren’t utterly pleased with and we all know we are able to enhance.
“Perhaps it’s not a giant factor, however a element right here and a element there, possibly you don’t see it within the wind tunnel however you understand if it’s not proper then it could possibly value you effort and efficiency. So we attempt to put our consideration all over the place — massive [update] packages but additionally small particulars.”
The change in management initially of this 12 months was adopted by additional concentrate on the intentions of Gene Haas and his dedication to System 1, that had been quickly proven to be as severe as ever. Further backing adopted for Komatsu as he started to indicate that the funding was being nicely spent, and De Zordo is in an analogous place.
An inventory of areas that the automobile growth staff want to see a rise in assets for is being put collectively, as a result of the technical director is conscious that the present aggressive image may look very totally different in just some months’ time given the potential of the others on the grid.
“For me the goal have to be to enhance. It should be,” De Zordo says. “I feel there are a few groups this 12 months which can be underperforming, and it means if we wish to sustain the tempo subsequent 12 months we should enhance and never think about that another person will possibly not enhance. So for me the goal have to be to be on the high of the midfield. To do this, we nonetheless have to make a step.”
The tightening of F1’s midfield has benefited Haas, however De Zordo is aware of the staff must struggle to maintain its upward trajectory going. Steven Tee/Motorsport Pictures
Like all of these in control of automobile tasks, subsequent 12 months 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 aim in thoughts for his first set of recent laws.
“I’ve thought of it a number of instances myself, that each change of laws we did nicely,” 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 depend on that. We all know that it’s very troublesome, and for a staff reminiscent of us, with smaller assets, it’s much more troublesome.
“As we method the following problem, the following technology of automobile, we should spend the time understanding what the principles are asking, what the chances are. As a result of with these laws we’re doing nicely, however on the similar time I understand that another person did higher.
“My private opinion is that one of many massive benefits for Crimson Bull is taking the best path from the start, and protecting growing in the best path. All the opposite groups at some stage needed to change path, 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 need to spend some extra time on it, even when you get to the primary race not as nicely ready as you had been prior to now however being on the best path, then the efficiency will come finally.”
If the trajectory of 2024 is something to go by, there’s no cause to imagine De Zordo isn’t the individual to information Haas onto that path over the following few years.
