Toyota returns to F1 through Haas partnership

10/10/2024 09:42 PM

Toyota has returned to Formula One, announcing today an immediate technical partnership with the Haas F1 team to share engineering expertise.

The Japanese car maker’s badge will adorn Haas cars from next week’s United States Grand Prix – its first formal appearance on an F1 circuit after its eight-year stint as an official factory-backed team ended in 2009.

The latest partnership will not see Toyota build engines for Haas – or take over the entire team – but it will see the auto giant’s engineers assist with the development of the F1 cars, and give Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers the chance to “gain driving experience in F1”.

It will run alongside Haas’ deal with Ferrari to supply engines and components.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will provide engineering expertise, while Haas will open up commercial benefits – and provide training opportunities to Toyota engineers.

“The agreement entails the participation in MoneyGram Haas F1 Team test drives by TGR [Toyota Gazoo Racing] training drivers, engineers, and mechanics,” Toyota said in a media statement.

It said the deal will open up Toyota GR drivers to “driving experience in F1”, while its engineers and mechanics will “learn how to analyse vast amounts of data, such as driving data, to effectively operate a pipeline for such at TGR”.

“The agreement also entails the participation of TGR engineers and mechanics in MoneyGram Haas F1 Team racing car aerodynamics development … by having participants design and manufacture carbon-fibre parts in simulated extreme operational environments,” the statement adds.

Toyota says the partnership will “accelerate the creation of ever-better motorsports-bred cars” for the road, but it’s unclear how that would eventuate.

Haas – which entered Formula One in 2016 – is currently running seventh in the 2024 standings, with drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.

Next year, both drivers will depart the team, with British rookie Oliver Bearman and current Alpine F1 driver Esteban Ocon to take their place.

The return to Formula One follows Toyota’s recent confirmation it would join Australia’s Supercars series, racing at the Bathurst 1000 – among other events – from 2026 with a version of the GR Supra sports coupe.

"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,” Haas F1 Team boss Ayao Komatsu said in a media statement published by F1.com.

"The ability to tap into the resources and knowledge base available at Toyota Gazoo Racing, while benefiting from their technical and manufacturing processes, will be instrumental in our own development and our clear desire to further increase our competitiveness in Formula 1.

"In return we offer a platform for Toyota Gazoo Racing to fully utilise and subsequently advance their in-house engineering capabilities.”

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