Haas Formula 1 team and Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, known for its successes in rally and endurance competitions, have entered into an historic multi-year technical collaboration. Long speculated upon, this agreement aims to leverage Toyota’s exceptional engineering abilities out of Cologne – their European motorsport hub is home to activities related to LMH/WRC1 series competition as well as part production/testing facilities – thus capitalizing on Toyota’s expertise from their European motorsport hub as part of this arrangement.
Toyota and Haas have agreed on an alliance through which Toyota will provide various services including design, technical support and manufacturing expertise to Haas F1 team. Haas acknowledges the significant commercial and technical advantages this alliance can bring them. Toyota sees this partnership as an opportunity to expose young engineers and drivers from its team to Formula 1, improving their knowledge through aerodynamic testing as well as the design and production of carbon fiber components.
Haas maintains a global presence with operations spread across Italy, the UK, and the USA. The team’s Italian office is strategically located in Maranello due to its association with Ferrari as a power unit supplier. This site also undertakes the team’s aerodynamic efforts. The UK facility in Banbury oversees vehicle performance, control systems, logistics, and race support. Meanwhile, the team’s marketing, accounting, and administrative functions are situated in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the mutual benefits anticipated from this collaboration. He pointed out the value of integrating Toyota Gazoo Racing’s technical and manufacturing efficiencies into Haas’s development strategies to enhance their Formula 1 competitiveness. In return, Haas offers a valuable platform for Toyota to refine its engineering capabilities further.
Toyota has long had an involvement in Formula 1, having competed directly through its Cologne base from 2002-2009 and later providing McLaren wind tunnel access until very recently. Tomoya Takahashi, president of Gazoo Racing Company expressed gratitude towards all stakeholders involved for sharing a sense of collaboration in order to foster talent and innovation through motorsports through this partnership.
Haas will continue its relationship with Ferrari as power unit supplier until 2028 due to technical regulations changes within motorsport.