Gene Haas ready to drive F1 car at 2025 Goodwood Festival

According to Goodwood, Haas Formula 1 team principal Ayao Komatsu has succeeded in convincing team owner Gene Haas to drive the 2023 VF23 car at this year’s Goodwood Festival.

The 72-year-old team owner will join Komatsu, Esteban Ocon, and Oliver Bearman — all of whom will tackle the famous hillclimb track throughout the weekend.

The American team is making their Goodwood Festival debut to celebrate their decade-long presence in F1 — a significant milestone marked by reaching 200 grand prix in Montreal.

“The fact that we haven’t been there before makes this moment even more significant, and for Gene as the founder and sole owner of the team, this is a special moment to drive his own car,” said Komatsu.

In preparation, Komatsu conducted a test session with Haas this past June. He revealed how the team owner was initially nervous but showed significant improvement in confidence — returning with an increasingly broader smile after each completed run.