The Haas drivers dropping back and making early tyre stops was a regular feature of Sundays last year and often led to good grid positions going to waste.
The team focused its design efforts with the VF-24 on addressing the problem and spent most of the Bahrain test concentrating on long runs.
Despite a lack of low-fuel experience, Nico Hulkenberg gave the team a boost by making Q3 and qualifying 10th for the Bahrain GP.
The German’s Saturday evening was ruined by a first corner incident and a stop for a new nose.
However, a solid drive from team-mate Kevin Magnussen to 12th, after starting 15th on the grid, indicated that Haas has vastly improved its race form relative to last year.
Komatsu made it clear that the team has made progress despite last year’s VF-23 development programme compromising work on its successor.
“If somebody told me before we ran the car this year that we are fighting for points in race one, I wouldn't expect that,” he said when asked by Autosport if he saw Magnussen’s result as a good outcome.
Source: Autosport