Toyota confirms plans for formula 1 return in the future

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s director of global motorsport, Masaya Kaji has confirmed that the automaker could return to Formula 1 in the future and it is "gradually moving in that direction.” Toyota parted ways with the premier class of motorsport after eight seasons in 2009.However, Toyota's branding returned to the F1 grid on the Haas VF-24 F1 car last year after it announced a technical partnership with the American outfit.Under the new collaboration, TGR will offer Haas design, technical, and manufacturing support, and in turn, Haas will offer technical insights through F1 and other commercial advantages.The two automotive racing brands collaborated to build a new simulator at the team's facility in Banbury, UK, last year, and to kickstart Haas' first Testing of Previous Cars program.TGR plans to slowly creep into the sport while learning and assessing everything before making a full-blown entry.It also associated itself with the Alpine F1 team as its World Endurance Championship driver Ryo Hirakawa joined the Enstone outfit this week as its reserve driver for the 2025 season. Speaking about TGR's plans to return to the sport, Kaji told Motorsport.com:“We are, of course, studying the technologies for 2026 and even current technologies. I feel we’re gradually moving in that direction.”However, he stressed that no such plans are being made for the near future since Toyota is not in a position currently where it could divert all resources into one project while it is still being assessed. He said:“We’re not at a stage where we would redirect all our resources there [to a full F1 return].“What happens after 2030 is still uncertain. We’re working on various new technologies, so whether our vector aligns with F1 remains to be seen.”He added:“If we had our own team, we could choose which drivers to put in the car.“In that sense, it would indeed bring us closer to putting drivers in F1. But realistically, we have to evaluate how much money and how many staff members would be required to make that happen."Kaji's statement about Toyota's potential entry into Formula 1 comes months after he ruled out the company becoming a works team.At the time, he had stated that TGR had no plans to establish its own F1 team, maintaining only a partnership with Haas.However, Toyota's stance now appears more optimistic after talks about returning to the sport. He said in October while partnering with Haas:"We have no plan to enter power unit supply, at this moment." - Sports Illustrated

Toyota confirms plans for formula 1 return in the future

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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Toyota confirms plans for formula 1 return in the future

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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