Since 2016, Haas has been a presence on the F1 grid, proudly presenting themselves as ‘America’s F1 team’.
Haas have said it is “business as usual” on the Formula 1 front after the announcement that the Stewart-Haas Racing organisation will close at the end of the 2024 NASCAR season.
At the end of 2024, Gene Haas and Tony Stewart declared the conclusion of their 15-year journey in NASCAR. Haas has been personally engaged in the series since 2002.
Haas remain ‘fully committed’ to F1 after announcement of NASCAR team closure
In a joint statement, Haas and Stewart said: “We have made the difficult decision to close Stewart-Haas Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season. It is a decision that did not come easily, nor was it made quickly.
Racing is a sport that demands a significant amount of effort and humility. It necessitates a steadfast dedication and abundant resources, along with a year-round mentality aimed at surpassing others. This is one of the reasons why achieving success in racing is incredibly fulfilling.
However, the level of dedication required to achieve optimal performance while ensuring long-term viability is extremely challenging. Therefore, we have come to a juncture in our individual and professional lives where it is appropriate to hand over responsibilities to others.
Nevertheless, the closure of the matter will not affect Haas’ ownership of his Formula 1 team. A representative from the team has emphasized that it will continue to operate normally, with Haas fully involved and dedicated.
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Recently, Ayao Komatsu, the team principal of Haas, expressed his anticipation for the forthcoming regulatory modifications in Formula 1. These changes, set to take effect in 2026, will encompass new chassis and power unit regulations.
In the final season of the current regulation cycle, he emphasized that team owner Gene Haas is persistently investing in their endeavors. The team is efficiently managing their preparations for a substantial transition while also focusing on developing next year’s car.
Komatsu informed F1 TV that it would indeed pose a significant challenge.
Currently, we are engaged in an internal discussion regarding the allocation of resources for the development of both the ’25 and ’26 cars.
“For teams like ours, it poses a significant challenge, but we are making progress. Our owner is actively investing in the team, and we are determined to ensure our readiness for it.”
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