Is Toyota planning a works F1 team after Haas deal?
Toyota might be flirting with the idea of a complete return to Formula 1 with its newly-announced partnership with Haas.
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Haas VF24 (via Haas F1 team) Toyota logo (via Toyota)
Toyota is one of the biggest carmakers in the world. Yet, the Japanese manufacturer has remained absent from Formula 1 since its ill-fated works entry that shut down in 2009. However, the auto giant has now announced a return to the sport with the Haas F1 team.
Haas has announced a multi-year technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing, the motorsports arm of the carmaker. The branding of the Japanese auto giant will appear on the Haas cars from the US GP. The main purpose of this deal is to provide technical assistance, design and manufacturing to the American F1 team.
In return, Toyota will gain from the commercial benefits of being on the F1 grid. The pinnacle of motorsport has increased in popularity over the years with millions of new fans tuning in. It is clear that the Japanese carmaker wants a piece of this pie. However, this has raised the question if Toyota Gazoo Racing could have its own F1 team once again.
Toyota Gazoo Racing F1 team still far from reality
Toyota’s deal with Haas sticks to technical collaboration and support for the American F1 team. Haas does need more resources to move up the the grid. However, the Japanese carmaker has not shown any interest in a power unit program or a full entry for the near future.
Nevertheless, things could change in the future. Once Toyota re-enters the grid, it could look to expand its operations, albeit only after learning how to race in modern F1. As the Japanese auto giant had a disastrous stint in the sport in the 2000s. So much so, that its fully-developed 2010 car never raced.
Starting a partnership with Haas will allow Toyota to understand the workings of an F1 team. This could potentially pave the way for further involvement in a couple of years time. Considering Gene Haas‘ reluctance to invest in his team, the Japanese carmaker could even receive an offer to buy the team in the future.
Certainly, Toyota’s return to F1 is a great thing for the sport. However, it is clear that the carmaker does not want to make it seem like its ready to undertake another billion dollar team project. As such, for the time, it seems that fans will have to stay content with just seeing the Toyota Gazoo Racing branding on the Haas F1 cars.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2329 Articles Published)