Gene Haas reacts to first F1 drive in Goodwood Festival of Speed outing

Haas Formula 1 team owner Gene Haas took on the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb yesterday, marking his first drive in an F1 car.

Reacting to the milestone moment, the 72-year-old American confessed that he hadn't heard of the prestigious event, but he was intrigued by the opportunity.

“When Ayao [Komatsu] first asked me about driving here at Goodwood, it seemed like an awful lot of work just for an excursion up a hill,” Haas explained after taking the 2023 VF23 on the famous hillclimb.

“I didn’t know about the Festival of Speed beforehand honestly, but it was intriguing to me, and now I understand why so many fans come here. 

“It’s the event to see so many different cars – old and new, not only Formula 1 cars – so it really does offer an opportunity for fans to see cars that they’ve only seen on TV or in the movies. I’m liking the cars from the '40s and '50s because it’s amazing that those teams were making cars that went 150 mph with the basic tools they had compared to now.

“My first impression of being in the Formula 1 car was that it’s very tight in there, and there are a lot of nuances you have to learn about the clutch, shifting, and there are a million things going on. The hardest thing to do though is to try to drive a very fast car at a very slow speed.”

Gene Haas, Owner and Founder, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Haas was joined at the Festival of Speed by team principal Ayao Komatsu, and drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. 

“I’ve absolutely loved today,” Komatsu said. “Yesterday I was a bit nervous because everyone told me this course is tricky, so I drove it very slowly. Then, when I knew what I was dealing with, this morning I was so relaxed and just enjoyed every second - the process of getting the car to the start line, being inside the car and driving this amazing machinery.

“Doing all that in this amazing setting, the Festival of Speed, is such a privilege. I’m very grateful for the experience.”