Haas F1 introduces floor upgrade to solve aerodynamic issues at Japanese GP

Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team Principal, reveals the team has introduced an upgrade to the VF-25’s floor for the Japanese GP — a move aimed at resolving aerodynamic oscillation issues in high-speed corners.

The problem first emerged during the season opener in Melbourne, where the team fell six-tenths behind their competitors due to bouncing in the Turn 9-10 section. However, in Shanghai, the team showed improved performance thanks to the smoother circuit.

“To get these parts here, we had to shortcut the process — whether it will make a one-percent difference or 50-percent difference, honestly, I cannot say,” stated Komatsu.

The development process was expedited — the team produced revised floor parts while conducting wind tunnel testing during shipping to Japan. Initial results showed positive direction, though real effectiveness will only be apparent once the car hits the track.

The different performance in Shanghai was due to the smoother track surface, allowing the team to set up the car as desired. In Melbourne, the combination of oscillation and compression at Turn 10 made the car difficult to control at high speeds.