In a significant move for Formula 1, Haas F1 Team has entered into a multi-year technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing, the motorsport division of Toyota Motor Corporation.
This collaboration aims to enhance the development and competitiveness of Haas - the only American team in Formula 1 - while offering Toyota a platform to further advance its own engineering and technical expertise and perhaps even the first step in another fully-fledged foray by the Japanese car manufacturer.
As part of the agreement, Toyota Gazoo Racing will provide key design, technical, and manufacturing support to the Moneygram-backed Haas F1 team. In return, Haas will offer its technical expertise and commercial opportunities. Both organizations hope to leverage their respective strengths to improve performance and push the boundaries of motorsport innovation.
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating: “Partnering with a global leader like Toyota Gazoo Racing will be crucial in advancing our technical capabilities. The resources and knowledge they bring will play a pivotal role in our quest to increase our competitiveness in Formula 1.”
Toyota has a rich motorsport history, spanning over 60 years, with current high-profile entries in the FIA World Rally Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship. The new partnership with Haas F1 Team marks Toyota’s reentry into the Formula 1 landscape, offering a chance to further develop its engineering talent and expertise.
Toyota branding will be on Haas F1 cars as from the next GP in the USA
Starting at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas (October 18-20, 2024), Toyota Gazoo Racing’s branding will appear on Haas F1’s VF-24 cars, driven by Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
Tomoya Takahashi, President of Gazoo Racing Company, also emphasized the mutual benefits of the partnership, stating: “By working alongside MoneyGram Haas F1 Team at the pinnacle of motorsports, we aim to develop our drivers, engineers, and mechanics, while contributing to the growth of both teams and the automotive industry as a whole.”
The collaboration also received backing from Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Scuderia Ferrari’s Team Principal Fred Vasseur, both of whom were instrumental in the formation of this partnership. The Haas F1 Team currently sits seventh in the Constructors' Championship, only three points behind sixth place, as they prepare for their home race in Austin.
This partnership marks a significant step for both Haas F1 Team and Toyota Gazoo Racing, with the two organizations setting their sights on long-term success in the competitive world of Formula 1.
Half a billion dollars is the legacy of Toyota's last badly managed F1 foray
Several notable drivers raced for Toyota during their time in Formula 1 from 2002 to 2009. Here's a list of the key drivers who competed with the team:
- Mika Salo (2002) – Finnish driver who raced in Toyota's debut season.
- Allan McNish (2002) – Scottish driver who also competed in Toyota's first season.
- Cristiano da Matta (2003-2004) – Brazilian driver who joined after winning the CART championship.
- Olivier Panis (2003-2004) – French veteran driver who provided experience to the team.
- Ricardo Zonta (2004-2005) – Brazilian driver who served as both a test and race driver during his time at Toyota.
- Jarno Trulli (2004-2009) – Italian driver who secured several podiums and was one of Toyota’s most consistent performers.
- Ralf Schumacher (2005-2007) – German driver, brother of Michael Schumacher, who achieved podium finishes with Toyota.
- Timo Glock (2008-2009) – German driver who earned podium finishes and was part of Toyota's last two seasons in F1.
- Kamui Kobayashi (2009) – Japanese driver who made a strong debut towards the end of Toyota's final season, impressing with his aggressive driving style.
These drivers helped Toyota achieve a total of 13 podium finishes during their time in the sport. A period when it was said the team spent massively more than the likes of Ferrari and McLaren who ruled F1 at the time. Reports of bad management plagued the Japanese automaker's last project in the top-flight
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