Why Gene Haas “gets annoyed” by repeated offers to buy his F1 team

While then-team boss Guenther Steiner repeatedly denied reports about a possible sale, Haas’s ongoing participation in Formula 1 was a topic of debate before the team signed the new Concorde Agreement to continue under the cost cap.

Now the picture looks completely different. As Haas competes in its 10th season, team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that while there have been “numerous” approaches in recent times from parties interested in buying the team, Gene Haas’s commitment is as strong as ever.

Last season was one of the most successful in Haas’s history, as it finished seventh in the constructors’ championship with 58 points, bouncing back from a disappointing 2023 campaign where it scored 12 points and finished last. It was after that season that Haas decided not to extend Steiner’s contract, putting Komatsu in charge of the team.

It was also Komatsu’s idea to encourage Haas to drive one of the team’s cars, the VF23 from 2023 season, with the team owner now set to celebrate its anniversary by driving during the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

“This year when he came to Miami, I could see that he actually enjoyed just being there,” Komatsu said to the media on Thursday in Silverstone. “He always asks lots of technical questions because he’s interested, but that hasn’t changed. On top of that, he was just enjoying the occasion.

“I thought, wow, I’m going to ask him if he wants to drive in Goodwood. He didn’t know much about Goodwood, but now he’s driving, he read about it, and he’s really excited for him to again experience things like that.”

Komatsu, who has been with Haas since the start of its F1 journey in 2016, sees a positive change in the owner’s engagement with the team.

“Honestly, he’s seen lots of changes,” he said. “He’s so engaged now. He understands the details as well. What’s the best way to put it? He’s always been very passionate about the sport and the result. He always wants us to improve, which is what we need from the owner. He was always behind us.

“I don’t know everything, but in the last 18 months he’s had numerous offers to buy the team. He’s not interested. He really enjoys being the owner of the F1 team. Currently one out of 10, from next year one out of 11. That’s such a privileged position to be in.

“He came in at a time when F1 wasn’t like this. He stuck with us during such a difficult period of COVID. Now he’s enjoying it.

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas F1 on the grid with Haas F1 team members prior to the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“Honestly, Gene’s so committed. He’s coming here [to Silverstone], obviously. He’s arriving Friday or tomorrow and then staying for Goodwood. He’s enjoying it. That’s the main thing.

“We are grateful that we have such a passionate owner, so committed. He’s not interested in selling at all. I can tell you recently I had some people really pushing to buy it, [Gene’s] not interested. He got even annoyed that these guys are asking so many times.”