Haas name new Technical Director and performance chief after winter reshuffle

Fresh from presenting the livery for their new F1 challenger, Haas have announced a series of changes to key design and engineering positions as they gear up for the 2024 season.

Haas made headlines at the start of the year when they opted to part ways with long-time Team Principal Guenther Steiner and replace him with Ayao Komatsu, while also confirming the departure of Technical Director Simone Resta.

FIRST LOOK: Haas showcase new look for 2024 challenger as livery is revealed

With the VF-24 colour scheme being revealed to the world on Friday afternoon, Haas also shared the news that Andrea De Zordo is taking on the primary technical position after several seasons serving as Chief Designer below Resta.

“He is a very technical person,” said Komatsu of De Zordo, who previously worked for Ferrari. “His communication is good, he’s very engaged and he listens to people, so I’m very happy about that appointment.

“We are now recruiting for our Chief Designer, but I believe we have good internal candidates, so we’ll look to promote internally.”

READ MORE: ‘I’m not trying to be Guenther Steiner’ – Ayao Komatsu on Haas’s new chapter and their targets for the future

Komatsu went on to comment that these are not the only changes taking place at Haas as they look to bounce back from finishing at the foot of the F1 constructors’ standings in 2023.

“Another key position is the Performance Director, this is a position that wasn’t there before, but we’ve created it putting Damien Brayshaw, previously the Head of Vehicle Performance Group, into the role,” he explained.

“He will oversee and drive the direction for the upgrades together with the aero department and all the other functions that analyse the full-scale car, which is trackside engineering, the Vehicle Performance Group, Tyre Group etc.”

Komatsu added: “They’re the key changes – we’re getting everyone on board, talking together, and be a part of steering the ship.”

READ MORE: Haas confirm Fittipaldi and Bearman as reserve drivers for 2024 season

As per the rest of the 2024 grid, Haas will field an unchanged driver line-up this year, with Nico Hulkenberg – who returned to F1 with the team last season – continuing alongside Kevin Magnussen.