Toyota hints at complete-180 over full scale F1 return with Haas
Toyota Gazoo Racing's president Masaya Kaji revealed the Japanese giant's intention to make a potential full return to Formula 1.
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Haas VF24 (via Haas F1 team) Toyota logo (via Toyota)
Haas recently struck a deal with Toyota Gazoo Racing as the team’s technical partner. The Japanese giant will provide the American constructor with design, technical, and manufacturing services. Toyota was also rumored to join the sport as an independent team, though it refuted such claims.
Toyota will gain a lot of knowledge about the sport’s current regulations alongside other commercial benefits in the deal with Haas. Moreover, the Haas F1 team’s improving pace would further enable the Japanese giant to gather more knowledge. Despite this possibility, Toyota Gazoo Racing had previously declined any possibility of joining the grid with Haas.
Toyota Gazoo Racing’s director, Masaya Kaji hinted at the manufacturer’s ambitions to now join the grid. Kaji highlighted that Toyota was indeed studying the technologies for the 2026 season onwards. Moreover, the Japanese asserted that the automobile giant was gradually pushing to ultimately join the paddock as an independent team.
We are, of course, studying the technologies for 2026 and even current technologies, I feel we’re gradually moving in that direction.
Masaya Kaji told motorsport.com
Toyota not to ‘redirect all resources’ towards returning to F1
Toyota being one of the biggest carmakers in the world would certainly aim to join the paddock as soon as possible. However, as witnessed from Andretti Cadillac’s situation, the team must put forth some notable benefits to join the grid. For these reasons, Masaya Kaji reckoned that the giant wouldn’t be redirecting all the resources towards a potential F1 return. Kaji noted that the team’s situation after the 2030 season was still uncertain.
We’re not at a stage where we would redirect all our resources there [to a full F1 return], What happens after 2030 is still uncertain. We’re working on various new technologies, so whether our vector aligns with F1 remains to be seen.
Masaya Kaji added
The Japanese giant would have to consider their options before spending billions to form a team in the pinnacle of motorsport. The 2026 season already has an 11th team joining the grid with General Motors. Hence, time will tell about how Toyota Gazoo Racing’s ambitions pan out in terms of returning to the grid as a complete team.
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Aditya Pandya
(1439 Articles Published)