This morning many woke up celebrating Toyota’s return to Formula 1. But that’s not really the case. The Japanese company has entered into a partnership agreement with Haas, in which it will provide the American team with certain services (component construction, simulation and other things), receiving in exchange know-how which will be used to create better cars… but road ones.
In the press conference held shortly after the official announcement of the partnership between Haas and Toyota, the leaders of the Japanese company immediately made it a point to clarify one important thing: Toyota has no intention of returning to Formula 1 either as a manufacturer, much less as a supplier of engines. He will be a partner who gives, but will also expect to receive.
“We currently have no plans regarding returning to Formula 1 as an engine supplier,” said Masaya Kaji, general manager of motorsport engineering at Toyota Gazoo Racing.
“In reality – he continued, going into more detail about a potential return to the world championship – we have no plan to have a Formula 1 team. At the moment, we have a better choice and that is the option of collaborating with the Haas team “.
A very clear stance on the part of the Japanese company, which will thus find itself providing services in exchange for know-how in a collaboration which, according to what Haas team principal – Ayao Komatsu said – will be long-term.
“This is not a short-term thing. The projects we chose to start were chosen because it’s clear what areas we are lacking in, what areas we don’t have the right capabilities in, and what areas Toyota has great capabilities in. “.
Haas VF-24, tying-up with Toyota Gazoo Racing
Photo credit: Motorsport.com Japan
“Obviously we are choosing the project that has the greatest impact and the greatest need to be developed. But I believe that over the course of this partnership we will understand each other more and more and there will be many areas in which we can work together.”
If these are Haas’ intentions, those of Toyota seem to focus more on a technology which, according to the Japanese company’s plans, should then be transferred to road cars.
“As you know, F1 cars are equipped with the most advanced technology in the world,” said Takahashi Tomoya, president of Toyota Gazoo Racing. “Aerodynamics, for example, is an extremely important technology for electric vehicles.”
“I believe the day will come when we will be able to transport the technology from single-seaters to production cars and I believe this will lead to the creation of cars of the future. In short, we want to use what we learn on future road cars.”
Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, added a fundamental part to understand the choice made by the Japanese company: “In 2009, when we left F1, Toyota was focused above all on being a bigger group, rather than making better cars”.
“As president, I decided at the time that our objectives were sales and profits. So Formula 1 was not good for what we had in mind at that time. Now we are transforming ourselves into a company that thinks about making better cars and that we do using motorsport as a basis. To do this, we need people who take responsibility for the technology transition.”
In short, for Toyota motorsport once again becomes the basis for creating road cars defined as “better”. Haas will be the ideal platform for this objective, but it will not be an all-round commitment to Formula 1. It is not a return, therefore, but a partnership that will have to bear fruit for all the entities involved.
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