Ayao Komatsu’s Passion for Climbing

As we sit down in the Haas hospitality suite at the Shanghai circuit, team principal Ayao Komatsu glances at his watch. “There’s a new climbing gym about half an hour from the hotel,” he shares, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’s a new climbing gym, apparently. My good friend is a climbing coach here – he’s coaching some Chinese guys.

Climbing Gyms Around the World

For Komatsu, climbing gyms have become an integral part of his routine, especially when traveling with the Formula 1 circus. He always ensures his luggage includes a chalk bag, harness, and climbing shoes. Over the years, he’s familiarized himself with dozens of gyms worldwide where people spend their free time scaling vertical walls.

In Singapore, Komatsu lists several gyms. “In Brazil,” he continues, “there’s a climbing gym five minutes from my hotel. Milan is amazing – we stay at the Hilton, and literally two minutes from the hotel, there’s probably Milan’s best climbing gym.” Bahrain, Melbourne, and even Suzuka are also on his list of favorite gyms.

The Origin of Komatsu’s Love for Climbing

Komatsu’s love for climbing dates back to his time working at a mountain hut as a kid. However, it wasn’t until he moved to the UK and met Johnny Dawes, a British rock climber also known as the Stone Monkey, that he truly discovered rock climbing.

After a chance encounter, Komatsu found himself climbing at the Warwick University climbing wall and enjoying it. He was reasonably good at it, and his passion for climbing grew. However, he had to put climbing on hold when he started his studies in Loughborough.

Rediscovering Climbing and Its Benefits

Komatsu rediscovered his love of climbing as an established F1 engineer. His career at Haas brought him back to climbing, especially after one of his kids started taking summer climbing sessions at a local gym in Milton Keynes.

Climbing has become Komatsu’s coping mechanism and a way to balance his head during difficult times. It allows him to switch off and focus entirely on the task at hand, providing great mental training for focus.

Climbing as a Source of Inspiration

One of Komatsu’s best friends now is Slovenian athlete Janja Garnbret, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest climbers in the world. They met in Singapore at a climbing gym during the Grand Prix weekend, and Komatsu has followed her career ever since.

Komatsu admires Garnbret’s dedication, work ethic, and focus. He believes they share similar qualities in how they apply themselves and manage pressure. For Garnbret, anything but winning is a failure, making every competition a high-pressure situation. Yet, she consistently delivers, inspiring Komatsu with her determination and focus.

Despite most of his climbing sessions now taking place in indoor gyms around the world, Komatsu remains an admirer of real mountains. He dreams of seeing K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth, before he dies, even though he acknowledges that he wouldn’t be able to climb it. Instead, he hopes to see it from base camp and experience the awe-inspiring sight of the mountain in front of him.