Toyota insists it has no plans to return to Formula 1 as a power unit supplier in future despite its new collaboration with Haas.
Haas currently uses the Ferrari power unit, gearbox and suspension as part of an agreement with the Italian constructor, but has announced Toyota as its official technical partner to help increase its capabilities. Toyota Gazoo Racing project manager Masaya Kaji said the involvement is not a precursor to a greater commitment in terms of either team ownership or power unit supply.
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“We have no plan to have a team in Formula 1,” Kaji said. “At this moment we have the best option to collaborate with Haas.
“Regarding the power unit, we have no plan to enter power unit supplying at this moment.”
Kaji said there were discussions with other teams about potential partnerships, but that Haas proved to be the ideal collaboration as Toyota will help install a simulator in Banbury and be involved in a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) program.
“Now we have a relationship with McLaren, with Ryo Hirakawa, and of course we have some connections with other teams,” he said. “But actually Haas and [Ayao] Komatsu-san is the best partner because our scope is exactly the same, and we can strengthen the team together. Our strong points and weak points fit perfectly. So we found a good answer to collaborate with Haas and Komatsu-san.
“We can supply simulator services and hardware, software, all the things, and we can help the TPC with the simulator side, too. Of course our simulator is now for WEC and customer programs, but our simulator engineers are top level and we can supply a good service. And we can learn more, through this project, about F1.”
The TPC program will provide an opportunity for Toyota drivers to get experience in F1 cars, and Komatsu said that could even extend into a reserve driver position.
“That’s definitely an open possibility,” Komatsu said. “For instance, for next year’s reserve driver, I haven’t actually sat down with Fred (Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, to discuss) who can be a reserve driver, or the driver who is in consideration.
“But just to make sure it’s clear, we are not talking about a pay driver, regardless of Toyota driver or non-Toyota driver. We’ll always be taking the best driver for sporting results. So the reserve driver will be the same, we haven’t made any decisions but we’re not ruling anything out either. It’s based on the competence of the driver.”