Haas makes a key step: the new simulator in Banbury will be operational from June
Thanks to its partnership with Toyota, the American F1 team has secured the resources to strengthen its facilities, including the acquisition of a new simulator. This development represents a small but important turning point for Haas, both logistically and technically. The new simulator is expected to be operational between May and June 2026.
In an era where top teams can rely on nearly 1,500 staff members, including engine specialists, a team like Haas—able to compete consistently in the midfield with fewer than 400 employees—is a minor miracle.
It’s not just about numbers, but resources. The Ferrari partnership allows Haas to reduce the need for certain technical roles, at least in terms of quantity. Nonetheless, achieving results with smaller infrastructure and a leaner workforce compared to rivals remains a notable accomplishment.
In recent years, Haas has launched a targeted investment campaign, aimed not only at expanding its workforce but also at improving its facilities. The arrival of new sponsors, including Toyota—which will take over as title sponsor from MoneyGram next year—has provided a significant financial boost. These fresh resources have been reinvested to make the team more solid and competitive.
For example, Haas now has the means to run a TPC test program with cars at least two years old, giving Toyota drivers a real opportunity to get closer to the world of Formula 1. But this is only one part of the team’s new strategy: thanks to funds from the Toyota agreement, Haas will finally be able to build its own simulator at the Banbury headquarters in the UK, in addition to developing components in Cologne.
Until now, Haas has relied exclusively on Ferrari’s simulator, accessed through a sort of rental contract that guarantees a limited number of days each year. While this is part of a broader partnership, relying on external facilities inevitably limits daily operations.
It’s no surprise that Haas chose to delay letting its two drivers test the 2026 car on the simulator. With few available days throughout the year, the team focused on achieving its objectives in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship. This pragmatic approach also took into account the updates planned for the latter part of the season, making early testing of a still-unfinished 2026 car unnecessary.
Having a new simulator currently under construction will give Haas drivers the chance to work more consistently, even between Grand Prix weekends. This represents a crucial step: while maintaining its partnership with Ferrari as a cornerstone, Haas will gain a degree of autonomy, enhancing its competitiveness across all areas.
The simulator is expected to be operational between May and June 2026, barring any delays in the calibration phase, which may take longer than anticipated. In the meantime, comparative data collection is already underway to prepare for the simulator’s installation at the Banbury factory, a process that should make the team’s development workflow smoother.
“It’s very important because we have access to a Ferrari simulator in Maranello. But it’s not ideal, since most of our engineering team is in the UK and the available days are limited,” explained Ayao Komatsu, Haas Team Principal, in Abu Dhabi. “From a logistical perspective, it’s quite complicated.”
Currently, only part of the aerodynamic engineers are based in Maranello, while the operational and mechanical teams work in the UK, often having to travel to Italy. Toyota has its own simulator in Cologne, but using it presents the same logistical challenges as Ferrari’s facility, which is why an in-house solution is so advantageous.
The initial hope was to have the simulator ready several months in advance to begin work on next year’s regulations. However, technical timelines must be respected, and even having it operational by June would be a significant milestone.
“In reality, I would have liked to have it at least six months earlier, because with next year’s regulations, the simulator will be even more essential. We can’t have it immediately, but it will be truly crucial. It’s a milestone for the team to be able to do this,” Ayao Komatsu added.
By building its own simulator and easing reliance on Ferrari’s resources, Haas is strategically enhancing its independence and development capabilities ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, strengthening its position as Maranello’s key customer team.
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