After over a decade away from Formula 1, Toyota is making a comeback by entering into a multi-year technical partnership with the Haas F1 team. This marks Toyota’s first involvement in F1 since they withdrew in 2009. The partnership was officially announced ahead of the 2024 United States Grand Prix, and Haas’ cars will soon bear the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) branding.
Key Highlights:
- Haas will continue as a Ferrari customer team.
- Toyota will assist with aerodynamics, manufacturing, and technical support.
- TGR drivers will participate in future Haas F1 tests.
The Scope of the Partnership
Although Haas will remain a Ferrari customer team, Toyota will contribute by offering design expertise, technical insights, and manufacturing capabilities. This agreement allows Toyota to grow its own skills in various areas, with a particular focus on aerodynamic development and parts manufacturing. There are also hints that Toyota might assist Haas in simulator work, helping improve the team’s overall performance.
Toyota is not just providing material support. Its engineers, drivers, and mechanics will also participate in Haas’ testing sessions. According to Toyota, these activities will give their drivers valuable experience in an F1 setting, while their engineers and mechanics will gain exposure to analyzing complex driving data, which can then be applied to Toyota's motorsport programs. This collaboration will enable Toyota to refine its in-house engineering capabilities by learning from Haas’ F1 operations.
Toyota’s F1 Past
Toyota's previous stint in Formula 1 spanned eight seasons, starting in 2002. During this time, they competed as a works team and an engine supplier. However, despite achieving 13 podium finishes and securing the fourth-best constructor championship result, Toyota pulled out at the end of 2009. The global economic crisis and the team’s underwhelming results prompted the company to exit the sport.
Now, through this new technical partnership with Haas, Toyota is returning to the pinnacle of motorsport, albeit in a supporting role rather than as a full-fledged competitor. As TGR President Tomoya Takahashi puts it, this is Toyota’s way of "competing alongside" Haas in Formula 1, allowing them to re-enter the F1 world without the full commitment of running their team or supplying engines.
Mutual Benefits for Haas and Toyota
Haas F1 team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed optimism about the partnership, emphasizing how beneficial the collaboration could be for both parties. For Haas, tapping into Toyota’s technical knowledge and resources—especially in areas like aerodynamics and manufacturing—could significantly boost its competitiveness. For Toyota, this partnership is a valuable platform for developing its engineering talent and advancing its technical expertise in motorsport.
Komatsu described the partnership as a win-win: "To have a world leader in the automotive sector support and work alongside our organization, while seeking to develop and accelerate their own technical and engineering expertise – it’s simply a partnership with obvious benefits on both sides."
While Toyota isn’t returning as a full team or engine supplier, this partnership offers a strategic way for the company to remain connected to the highest level of motorsport and continue developing its engineering prowess. For Haas, the support from Toyota could boost them to rise through the ranks and become more competitive in F1’s tightly contested mid-field.
