Haas will hit the budget cap in 2025 for the first time in its history
Formula One's sole American outfit Haas will hit the budget cap in 2025 for the first time in its history, team boss Ayao Komatsu has now revealed ahead of the upcoming season.
Haas joined the pinnacle of motorsport back in 2016, establishing a new model in Formula One by having multiple headquarters. While the main one is located in Kannapolis, it also has a factory in the UK and it has also been present in Italy because of its collaboration with its chassis builder Dallara. Since then, the team has also established an own design office inside Ferrari's F1 factory in Maranello.
Following its initial success, the team failed to master the new ground-effect technical regulations that were introduced in 2022. However, Haas surprisingly found its form last year, making inroads with their race pace. The uplift in form enabled the American team to secure seventh place in the constructors' championship.
Ahead of their tenth season in F1, team boss Ayao Komatsu insists that the commercial gains that have been made in recent years have finally put the team in a much healthier financial position.
“This year is the first time that as a company, Gene doesn’t have to put his own money in. We haven’t been hitting the budget cap, we are hitting it this year. So we have a different challenge of making sure we stay within the budget cap.
“It’s great that we finally got here, but in terms of mindset, it’s the same thing – like trackside engineering, we really had to change the mindset of everyone, what is acceptable and what we have to strive for.
Reflecting on the Kannapolis-based outfit's financial situation, Komatsu has revealed that the team has always been under the financial ceiling, but it will manage to fully exploit the budget cap for the first time this season.
“It’s the same with this budget thing. Before, if we were under the budget cap, if we had money, we could spend it without worrying about it. Now we have to make sure we stay within the budget cap. So it’s a whole different mindset. But if you want to be competitive, that’s minimum where you should be.
“So, finally, it feels like we’re ticking many boxes – start doing TPC, be on the budget cap and being profitable. With the prize money from last year, sponsorship money etc, this year, Gene shouldn’t have to put his money in. It’s the first time.”
