F1: Toyota concludes a technical partnership with Haas
Toyota has just signed a multi-year agreement with the American team Haas. A technical arrangement that could benefit both parties: the Japanese manufacturer making its return to the sport and Haas benefiting from the expertise of one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.
For the first time since 2009, Toyota will see its name on a Formula 1 car. The Japanese manufacturer, which had made the decision 15 years ago to leave the discipline after entering in 2002, has just concluded a technical and strategic partnership with the Haas team. This will start at the next Grand Prix in Austin (October 18-20).
Toyota will provide Haas with design, technical, and manufacturing services, while the American team will provide certain commercial benefits to the Japanese manufacturer as well as greater visibility across the Atlantic. This decision ends its partnership with Dallara, the Italian manufacturer who has designed all Haas cars since Gene Haas’ team arrived in the category in 2016. This partnership also confirms rumors of Toyota’s return to the sport.
A return to F1 completely ruled out at the start.
However, just a few months ago, this seemed unlikely due to the painful past that the Japanese brand had experienced in the category (0 wins, 13 podiums, and 3 pole positions in 139 races between 2002 and 2009). Last spring, Rob Leupen, Toyota Racing’s general manager, had even been particularly opposed to this idea. « What did Formula 1 bring to Toyota at the time, apart from a beautiful factory? A lot of money was invested to make the Toyota name known. I think that in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), we can show more of what Toyota does and what the brand represents,” he mentioned in an interview with GpBlog.
However, for several years now, notably with the arrival of Liberty Media, F1 has been expanding around the world and attracting an increasingly large audience. This has caught the attention of new and old manufacturers like Toyota, who have finally decided to make a comeback with Haas. A decision that has delighted Ayao Komatsu, director of the American team.
« I am extremely excited that the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and Toyota Gazoo Racing have partnered to enter into this technical partnership. Having a global leader in the automotive sector to support and work alongside our organization, while seeking to develop and accelerate their own technical and engineering expertise, is simply a partnership with clear benefits on both sides. » The Japanese were particularly delighted to see Haas strike a deal with such a prestigious manufacturer as Toyota, and affirms that this partnership will be beneficial for both parties.
A technical partnership that serves the interests of both brands.
With Toyota, Haas will have access to quality expertise that will allow the team to further develop. The Japanese manufacturer has had many successes outside of Formula 1, notably winning five World Endurance Championship titles in the past seven years in the LMP1 and Hypercar regulations with their Gazoo Racing team. Together, they have also claimed five driver championships and four team championships in the World Rally Championship since 2017. This is a success that Haas hopes to benefit from thanks to Toyota, which already possesses this winning culture.
At the same time, Toyota will be able to benefit from the necessary commercial advantages to promote the brand worldwide, especially in the American continent. Fans will be able to discover the name of the Japanese brand on the cars of Magnussen and Hülkenberg from the next Grand Prix in Austin. Moreover, this allows Toyota to return to Formula 1 and make up for its initial failure. The opportunity to tap into the resources and knowledge base available at Toyota Gazoo Racing, while benefiting from their technical and manufacturing processes, will be crucial for our own development and our clear desire to increase our competitiveness in Formula 1, explained Komatsu. In return, Haas provides a platform for Toyota Gazoo Racing to fully utilize and enhance their internal engineering capabilities.
Toyota states that this is not a return to Formula 1.
Nevertheless, as soon as Toyota’s arrival at Haas was made official, the representatives of the Japanese manufacturer were very clear during the press conference held in Fuji this Friday morning: Toyota is not returning to Formula 1, even though they hope that this partnership will encourage young Japanese people to pursue a career in motorsport. « Make sure that tomorrow’s headlines do not say “Toyota returns to F1,” proclaimed Akio Toyoda, president of the Japanese manufacturer. « Instead, it would be great to read headlines that will make Japanese children dream of the possibility that they too could one day drive the world’s fastest cars. »
For Haas, which remains powered by Ferrari, this is a great partnership. The team already seems to be on an upward trajectory this season and could become a leading team in the future. The team’s boss, Ayao Komatsu, wanted to thank the people who made this collaboration possible. With Gene Haas, I would like to particularly thank Stefano Domenicali and Fred Vasseur in this regard, and with Toyota, I would like to thank Akio Toyoda (President of Toyota Motor Corporation), Tomoya Takahashi (President of GAZOO Racing Company), and Masaya Kaji (Project Leader at GAZOO Racing Company). Everyone at Haas is looking forward to the collaborative results of this new relationship, we are eager to start and achieve our common ambitions.
A feeling shared by Takahashi, president of GAZOO Racing Company. « We are pleased to announce that the MoneyGram Haas F1 team and Toyota Gazoo Racing have reached a basic agreement to enter into a technical partnership such as the development of Haas vehicles. We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Gene Haas, Mr. Ayao Komatsu, Mr. Stefano Domenicali, Mr. Fred Vasseur, and all our current team partners for their outstanding cooperation and understanding in this collaboration. »
(To) In competition with the MoneyGram Haas F1 team at the top of motor racing, we aim to develop drivers, engineers, and mechanics while strengthening the capabilities of the MoneyGram Haas F1 team and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, and we hope to contribute to motor racing and the automotive industry » he continued. Ambitious goals for the Japanese manufacturer, who hopes to demonstrate through this agreement that there is hope for young children around the world to access Formula 1.
Even though Haas seems far from the top positions today, this partnership has a lot of potential and could bring the American team to the front of the grid in a very short time. Something to satisfy the future drivers of the team: Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.
