In 2009, Toyota bid farewell to System 1 after eight seasons within the championship, leaving a big mark as a neighborhood group and engine provider.
Throughout its time in F1, the Japanese model achieved 13 podium finishes and secured fourth place within the Constructors’ Championship, making it one of the vital aggressive groups on the grid. Though its final participation was in 2009, Toyota has at all times maintained its ties to motorsport, and now, 15 years later, it returns to the massive stage.
This comeback materializes by means of Haas, with a multi-year contract that takes impact instantly. The Japanese model just isn’t returning as a group however as a strategic companion, providing technical help and improvement to the American outfit.
Toyota goals to “Anglicize” Haas to interrupt free from Ferrari within the F1 World Championship
Toyota has determined to not return as an official group to System 1, however its alliance with Haas represents an essential step in its technique to stay influential within the sport.
Via its Toyota Gazoo Racing division, the Japanese model will present technical help, improvement, and manufacturing, considerably enhancing the efficiency of the American group. This help will allow Haas to enhance its potential on the grid whereas permitting Toyota to stay actively concerned within the evolution of F1 with out taking over the dangers of being an official group.
Regardless of not returning as a group, Toyota ensures its presence in discussions relating to the brand new engine laws for 2026. The model will even have a say in driver choice, opening the door to the opportunity of a Japanese driver becoming a member of Haas.
Any such technical affect can be crucial throughout the transitional section System 1 will expertise with new modifications to energy models and laws, permitting Toyota to have a direct presence in future decision-making.
The settlement with Haas may additionally result in a big shift within the group’s construction. With Toyota’s backing, Haas may start to distance itself from its relationship with Ferrari and shift its improvement focus to England.
This transfer would grant them entry to superior sources, equivalent to Toyota’s wind tunnel in Cologne and a brand new state-of-the-art simulator—key instruments to boost their competitiveness sooner or later. Whereas Toyota buying Haas just isn’t an instantaneous possibility, the technical help Toyota will present marks a brand new chapter in its relationship with the American group.
Toyota’s cautious strategy highlights its technique of participating with System 1 not directly but meaningfully. Performing as a technical companion as an alternative of a full-fledged constructor permits the model to affect F1’s improvement with out the commitments a full return would entail.
With the introduction of recent technical laws post-2026, this alliance may show essential for Toyota’s future in F1, probably enabling a way more energetic position in the event that they determine to take the step of buying the American group.