Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has no problem with the supposedly boring Monaco race day and sees the unique challenges
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu believes that the overtaking issues on Sunday at the Monaco Grand Prix should be accepted as part of the event’s unique appeal, rather than expecting the 2026 Formula 1 regulations to resolve them. He does not believe the new cars will change the current problem.
“I don’t think you can overtake there on Sunday right now. I mean, look at Suzuka; even in Miami, overtaking was pretty difficult,” Komatsu explains during an appearance on the Essential F1 podcast. “So in Monaco, I think it will be the same. I don’t think it’s enough right now to see overtaking maneuvers in Monaco.”
For several years now, there have been discussions about making adjustments to make the race less of a procession. In 2025, an attempt was made to make the race more exciting by introducing two mandatory pit stops, but since that didn’t work, the rule was scrapped again for 2026.
But Komatsu believes that this type of race must also be accepted: “We have 22 races on the calendar, and I think Monaco is simply extremely unique,” he emphasizes. “Instead of trying to make Sunday in Monaco fit the mold—that’s my personal opinion—we should just accept Monaco Sunday as it is.”
For him, the principality is nonetheless “a fantastic location” with a completely different vibe: “It’s all about Saturday. In and of itself, it’s a very unique event,” he says.
“Plus, Monaco is traditionally a one-stop race. And because there’s only that one stop on Sunday, the decisive moment can only happen around that one stop—which in turn creates enormous pressure,” says the Japanese driver. “If you make even a small mistake there, that’s it—you’re done for and can’t make it up.”
