Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is Tom Clarkson’s guest on this week’s F1 Beyond The Grid.
Ayao has been with Haas since their debut season 10 years ago, but he’s only been in charge since 2024. What has he learned about leadership in that time? How did he guide the team’s recovery from such a difficult start last season? And what are Haas’ targets in the new era of Formula 1?
As for the drivers, Ayao tells Tom what he wants to see from Esteban Ocon this year and how long they can hold on to Ollie Bearman if his eye-catching performances continue.


Ayao also reveals a lot about his relationship with owner Gene Haas and what Toyota bring to the table as the team’s technical partner.

F1 Nation + F1 Explains are together in 2026
Get race reviews + answers to your questions all in one place

This episode is sponsored by Vanta: get started at vanta.com/GRID

<div>Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is Tom Clarkson’s guest on this week’s F1 Beyond The Grid.</div><br><div>Ayao has been with Haas since their debut season 10 years ago, but he’s only been in charge since 2024. What has he learned about leadership in that time? How did he guide the team’s recovery from such a difficult start last season? And what are Haas’ targets in the new era of Formula 1?</div><br><div>As for the drivers, Ayao tells Tom what he wants to see from Esteban Ocon this year and how long they can hold on to Ollie Bearman if his eye-catching performances continue.</div><br><div>
<p>Ayao also reveals a lot about his relationship with owner Gene Haas and what Toyota bring to the table as the team’s technical partner.</p><p><strong>F1 Nation + F1 Explains are together in 2026<br></strong><a href="https://www.podfollow.com/f1-nation">Get race reviews + answers to your questions all in one place</a></p><p>This episode is sponsored by Vanta: get started at <a href="http://vanta.com/GRID">vanta.com/GRID</a></p></div>

Formula 1's fastest stars slow down for in-depth interviews. Tom Clarkson brings you revealing, feature-length conversations with drivers, team bosses, engineering experts and F1 legends.

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F1: Beyond The Grid

Ayao Komatsu: aiming high with Haas

Red Bull Racing were at a crossroads when Laurent Mekies took over as Team Principal halfway through 2025. After a difficult first half of the season, should they continue working on their 2025 car or write that year off and prioritise the new regulations for 2026?
Their decision to stay focussed on the ‘25 car paid off, with Max Verstappen going from more than 100 points behind to missing out on the title by just two points. But in this new era of Formula 1, Red Bull have fallen down the pecking order after a difficult start to the season.
Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Laurent explains why they didn’t switch full focus to 2026 earlier and whether they’re now paying the price for last year’s turnaround.
Laurent also talks about how different his experience as a Team Principal is at Red Bull compared to Racing Bulls. He shares insight into what Max Verstappen is like outside of the car, the Dutchman’s future with the team and how Isack Hadjar is settling into his new surroundings.


Plus, with Red Bull making their own power units for the first time this year, Laurent tells Tom why he describes their Powertrains project as a ‘crazy challenge’ that only a team like Red Bull could take on.

Race reviews + your questions answered
Listen to the latest episodes of F1 Nation and F1 Explains

This episode is sponsored by CarGurus
Go to cargurus.co.uk for complete vehicle details without any surprises.

<div>Red Bull Racing were at a crossroads when Laurent Mekies took over as Team Principal halfway through 2025. After a difficult first half of the season, should they continue working on their 2025 car or write that year off and prioritise the new regulations for 2026?</div><br><div>Their decision to stay focussed on the ‘25 car paid off, with Max Verstappen going from more than 100 points behind to missing out on the title by just two points. But in this new era of Formula 1, Red Bull have fallen down the pecking order after a difficult start to the season.</div><br><div>Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Laurent explains why they didn’t switch full focus to 2026 earlier and whether they’re now paying the price for last year’s turnaround.</div><br><div>Laurent also talks about how different his experience as a Team Principal is at Red Bull compared to Racing Bulls. He shares insight into what Max Verstappen is like outside of the car, the Dutchman’s future with the team and how Isack Hadjar is settling into his new surroundings.</div><br><div>
<p>Plus, with Red Bull making their own power units for the first time this year, Laurent tells Tom why he describes their Powertrains project as a ‘crazy challenge’ that only a team like Red Bull could take on.</p><p><strong>Race reviews + your questions answered<br></strong><a href="https://www.podfollow.com/f1-nation">Listen to the latest episodes of F1 Nation and F1 Explains</a></p><p><strong>This episode is sponsored by CarGurus</strong><br>Go to <a href="http://cargurus.co.uk">cargurus.co.uk</a> for complete vehicle details without any surprises.</p></div>

Laurent Mekies: relishing Red Bull challenge

The son of a motorsport legend, a racer since childhood, Formula 1 was Jacques Villeneuve's destiny. In 1996, the young Canadian arrived at his first Grand Prix and immediately proved he belonged there by taking pole position. 

In his rookie season Villeneuve won races, went wheel-to-wheel with Michael Schumacher and took Williams teammate Damon Hill to a final race title-decider. 30 years on, he sits down with Tom Clarkson to remember how he shook up the sport. 

Jacques explains why he left IndyCar as reigning champion to join Williams in Formula 1, and how racing on ovals influenced how he drove Grands Prix. He talks about working with race engineer Jock Clear, and experimenting with his throttle pedal and steering wheel paddles to find extra performance.

Tom asks Jacques about the highlights of his first year in F1: his first pole position, his first race win and the spectacular pass he made on Michael Schumacher - an overtaking move still regarded as one of the best in F1 history.

F1 Nation + F1 Explains are together in 2026
Get race reviews + answers to your questions all in one place

This episode is sponsored by:
CarGurus: buy or sell your next car today at cargurus.com

 Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

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<div>
<p>The son of a motorsport legend, a racer since childhood, Formula 1 was Jacques Villeneuve's destiny. In 1996, the young Canadian arrived at his first Grand Prix and immediately proved he belonged there by taking pole position. </p><p>In his rookie season Villeneuve won races, went wheel-to-wheel with Michael Schumacher and took Williams teammate Damon Hill to a final race title-decider. 30 years on, he sits down with Tom Clarkson to remember how he shook up the sport. </p><p>Jacques explains why he left IndyCar as reigning champion to join Williams in Formula 1, and how racing on ovals influenced how he drove Grands Prix. He talks about working with race engineer Jock Clear, and experimenting with his throttle pedal and steering wheel paddles to find extra performance.</p><p>Tom asks Jacques about the highlights of his first year in F1: his first pole position, his first race win and the spectacular pass he made on Michael Schumacher - an overtaking move still regarded as one of the best in F1 history.</p><p><strong>F1 Nation + F1 Explains are together in 2026<br></strong><a href="https://www.podfollow.com/f1-nation">Get race reviews + answers to your questions all in one place</a></p><p><strong>This episode is sponsored by:<br></strong>CarGurus: buy or sell your next car today at <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcargurus.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCBrowning-Brant%40f1.com%7Cb15836396ecf4234538108de8430ba0c%7Cb792abe295a94aff9e3a4beb3206df89%7C0%7C0%7C639093541993820014%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=IG59pl8gj5Dp%2F0xr53uneKx%2B%2B7nW2DfKe%2BPSG3XpYQY%3D&amp;reserved=0">cargurus.com</a> <br> <br> Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fshopify.com%2Fbeyondthegrid&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCBrowning-Brant%40f1.com%7Cb15836396ecf4234538108de8430ba0c%7Cb792abe295a94aff9e3a4beb3206df89%7C0%7C0%7C639093541993848940%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=qM4I3X5qm3StGzj6DIwFkUyPUnpgSJ8OBJwOw5hvCVA%3D&amp;reserved=0">shopify.com/beyondthegrid</a><br> <br> Saily: get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code grid at<br> checkout. Download Saily app or go to to <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsaily.com%2Fgrid&amp;data=05%7C02%7CCBrowning-Brant%40f1.com%7Cb15836396ecf4234538108de8430ba0c%7Cb792abe295a94aff9e3a4beb3206df89%7C0%7C0%7C639093541993868681%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=MPoOXoClkvZDsplMztfe5Rq7h7gXHCt4fSRW5ug98%2Fw%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://saily.com/grid<br></a><br></p></div>

LEGENDS: How Jacques Villeneuve shook up F1

The newest team in Formula 1 are here to compete. Cadillac have earned the respect of their rivals. Now they’re pushing to get faster.
CEO Dan Towriss takes Tom Clarkson back to the start of the story - how he and his TWG Motorsports company first became involved in discussions about F1, conversations with General Motors and Cadillac, the work to build a team, choosing their race drivers and making their F1 debut in Australia.
Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are the first Cadillac F1 drivers. What do they bring to a new team? What does the future hold for the team’s reserve driver, IndyCar star Colton Herta?


And what are the team’s aims in their first season? The learning curve is steep at the pinnacle of motorsport, but as Dan says, ‘no part of this should be easy’.

This episode is sponsored by: 

Vanta: get started at vanta.com/GRID

Liquid I.V. : go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first purchase with
code GRID at checkout

Rag & Bone: It’s time to upgrade your denim with Rag & Bone. For a limited time, our listeners get 20% off their entire order with code GRID at rag-bone.com

<div>The newest team in Formula 1 are here to compete. Cadillac have earned the respect of their rivals. Now they’re pushing to get faster.</div><br><div>CEO Dan Towriss takes Tom Clarkson back to the start of the story - how he and his TWG Motorsports company first became involved in discussions about F1, conversations with General Motors and Cadillac, the work to build a team, choosing their race drivers and making their F1 debut in Australia.</div><br><div>Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are the first Cadillac F1 drivers. What do they bring to a new team? What does the future hold for the team’s reserve driver, IndyCar star Colton Herta?</div><br><div>
<p>And what are the team’s aims in their first season? The learning curve is steep at the pinnacle of motorsport, but as Dan says, ‘no part of this should be easy’.</p><p>This episode is sponsored by: </p><p>Vanta: get started at <a href="http://vanta.com/GRID">vanta.com/GRID</a></p><p>Liquid I.V. : go to <a href="http://liquidiv.com">liquidiv.com</a> and get 20% off your first purchase with<br>code GRID at checkout</p><p>Rag &amp; Bone: It’s time to upgrade your denim with Rag &amp; Bone. For a limited time, our listeners get 20% off their entire order with code GRID at <a href="http://rag-bone.com">rag-bone.com</a></p></div>

Ayao Komatsu: aiming high with Haas

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