Get ready for a thrilling new chapter in Formula One! Toyota, a renowned name in motorsport, is making a triumphant comeback to the world of grand prix racing. The Japanese automotive giant has announced a multi-year technical partnership with the American-owned Haas Formula One team. This collaboration marks Toyota’s first direct involvement in Formula One since 2009, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the grid.
Under the partnership, Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division will provide Haas with valuable design, technical, and manufacturing support. This knowledge exchange goes both ways, with Haas also offering Toyota a platform to advance its own engineering capabilities. The partnership is poised to deliver significant benefits for both organizations.
Haas, currently seventh in the constructors’ championship, will continue to use Ferrari power units under a contract that extends to 2028. The partnership with Toyota will see branding on Haas’s VF-24 cars, driven by Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, starting immediately at the Circuit of the Americas, for the US Grand Prix.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu, a Japanese national, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. “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,” Komatsu stated.
He emphasized the value of tapping into Toyota’s resources and knowledge base, stating, “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 One.”
Komatsu expressed gratitude to Ferrari and its team boss Fred Vasseur, as well as Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali, for their support in establishing this partnership.
Tomoya Takahashi, president of Gazoo Racing, highlighted the partnership’s focus on nurturing talent. “We aim to cultivate drivers, engineers, and mechanics,” he stated. Toyota’s commitment to motorsport extends beyond Formula One, with active participation in the world rally championship and endurance racing. The company boasts a state-of-the-art wind tunnel at its headquarters in Cologne, Germany, previously used by Formula One championship leader McLaren.
Haas will field a fresh driver lineup next year, with experienced Frenchman Esteban Ocon and British rookie Oliver Bearman, the Ferrari reserve driver who has already gained experience with Ferrari and Haas this season.
Toyota’s previous foray into Formula One began in 2002 with its own team. Despite a substantial budget, the team never achieved a race victory. Toyota also supplied engines to Williams from 2007 to 2009.
Meanwhile, Toyota’s domestic rival, Honda, left Formula One in 2008 but returned as an engine maker in 2015. Currently, Honda partners with reigning champions Red Bull. In 2026, Honda will embark on a new and exclusive partnership with Aston Martin. This exciting new partnership between Toyota and Haas promises to bring fresh competition, technological advancements, and a resurgence of Japanese presence in Formula One. Keep your eyes peeled for the exciting developments to come!
