Recently on the Coral Capital Podcast, we welcomed Haas F1 Team Principal Ayao Komatsu at our Tokyo HQ.
A Childhood of Unorthodox Inspiration
Born in Tokyo, Ayao’s childhood was anything but traditional.
His father, once a political dissident, taught himself 18th-century German in prison so he could read Beethoven’s letters and later became a musicologist.
His mother, an equally determined and strong-willed woman, built a successful career in the fashion industry from scratch to support the family.
Komatsu credits his parents for instilling in him the mindset that barriers don’t exist if you want something badly enough and while most parents in Japan might have pushed for a more conventional career path, they fully supported his dream of entering the world of F1.
When the Dream Shifted Gears
Before his passion for F1 took hold, Komatsu’s ambition was to become an investigative journalist.
He loved to write and was inspired by a family friend who exposed a major political scandal in Japan. But his life changed when he discovered F1.
He was drawn to the sport’s international nature and the continuous cycle of innovation.
What’s even more surprising is that at just 14 years old, he knew he didn’t want to be a driver. He was captivated by the engineering side, believing that the contribution of an engineer was greater in F1 than in other motorsports.
He forced himself through math and physics, moved to the UK for engineering, wrote a lot of cold emails, and learned English by dropping into an intermediate class with zero compatriots and a room full of fluent Swiss bankers.
Finding His Place in a European-dominated Sport
Ayao openly discussed the cultural challenges of being a Japanese person in a sport dominated by Europeans and based primarily in the UK.
He shared a great anecdote about his time at language school in London, where he was unexpectedly placed in a class with no other Japanese students. This forced him to fully immerse himself in the language and culture, a key moment he believes was essential for his career.
His advice is to concentrate on what you can control, be transparent, and earn respect through your work.
Toyota x Haas: Engineering Muscle Meets Agility
Haas has a new technical partnership with Toyota, marking Toyota’s first step back toward F1 in 15 years.
Ayao revealed his initial skepticism about the collaboration, but his conversations with Toyota’s chairman changed his perspective.
He was impressed by the chairman’s genuine desire to correct past mistakes and re-establish a cultural presence in F1.
This new partnership aims to blend Toyota’s engineering prowess with Haas’s agile approach, moving away from the resource-heavy, money-is-no-object model that failed them before.
The Human Element
At the heart of Ayao Komatsu’s philosophy is the belief that success in Formula 1 is built on the human element.
He emphasizes that his job as a team principal is about building a culture where people can thrive. This requires being straightforward and transparent, treating colleagues with respect, and facing problems directly rather than avoiding them.
This is best shown through his bond with former Haas driver Romain Grosjean. Serving as Grosjean’s chief race engineer, Komatsu built a partnership on mutual respect and trust.
His tough feedback, always meant to help Grosjean improve, earned the driver’s complete confidence.
Their relationship’s strength was clear after Grosjean’s horrific 2020 Bahrain crash. His first call from the hospital was to Ayao.
The 2026 Reset: A Chance to Rewrite the Order
Komatsu calls the upcoming 2026 F1 rules “super radical,” and it’s easy to see why.
These changes represent a huge opportunity for every team, with the biggest shift coming from new power units that will have a higher electrical output, run on 100% sustainable fuels and also aim to make cars lighter and more agile.
For Haas, this timing couldn’t be better. Ayao believes that their new partnership with Toyota will be key to long-term success.
Looking ahead to 2028, his goal is straightforward: for Haas to become a consistent top-of-the-midfield team, battling for P5 and P6 on merit. He’s confident that solid execution in the short and medium term will pave the way for this.
Whether it’s negotiating a new language, making high-stakes decisions on the pit wall, or rebuilding a team from the ground up, Ayao focuses on taking the first step and confronting reality directly.
To hear more about this philosophy, including his fascinating insights on why more Japanese engineers haven’t made it to the top of the sport, tune in to our full conversation on YouTube , Apple Podcasts or Spotify .
