Despite the recent partnership with Haas, Toyota is not considering a return to Formula 1. The team had moderate success in the premier class between 2002 and 2009, but for now, they are sticking to a collaboration with the American racing stable. There are no plans for their own team. Supplying engines, which previously attracted major manufacturers like Audi and Ford, is also not on the agenda.
Masaya Kaji, General Manager of Motorsport Engineering at Toyota GAZOO Racing, told the German Autosport that Toyota is not planning to return to Formula 1 for the time being. “We have no plans to run our own team,” he said. “Supplying engines is also not a priority for us. The collaboration with Haas is currently the best option for our company.”
“This is not a short-term project,” added Kaji. “We have deliberately selected certain projects that clearly show what Toyota is capable of, and where we can discover where we can still improve. CEO Ako Toyoda, who himself pulled the plug on the Formula 1 project in 2009, wants to emphasize that this is not a comeback.”
“We had to dissolve the team at the time because our company had to focus on selling cars and generating profit,” he explained. “Now we are transforming ourselves into a company that builds better cars based on motorsport experience.” Toyota GAZOO Racing is already successful in the World Rally Championship and the World Endurance Championship. The ‘technical partnership’ with Haas should give the Japanese car giant even more insight into the development of leading technology.
