BREAKING: Toyota Confirms Potential Formula 1 Re…re

Toyota Confirms Potential Formula 1 Return in the Future

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s (TGR) global motorsport director, Masaya Kaji, has hinted at a potential return to Formula 1, stating the company is “gradually moving in that direction.” Toyota, which exited Formula 1 in 2009 after an eight-season stint, is carefully evaluating the possibility of re-entering the sport while leveraging its technical partnership with the Haas F1 team.

Toyota’s recent involvement with F1 was reignited through a collaboration with Haas, with the automaker’s branding appearing on the Haas VF-24 car last season. The partnership sees TGR providing design, technical, and manufacturing support, while Haas shares its technical expertise and offers commercial opportunities. This partnership marks Toyota’s cautious approach to reentering F1, allowing it to learn and adapt without committing to a full-fledged team.

In 2024, the partnership resulted in the construction of a new simulator at Haas’ Banbury, UK facility, as well as the initiation of the team’s first Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program. TGR’s collaboration with Haas is a strategic move to re-establish its presence in F1, but Kaji clarified that Toyota’s return as a works team is not imminent.

“We are studying the technologies for 2026 and even current technologies,” Kaji said. “I feel we’re gradually moving in that direction.” However, he emphasized that Toyota is not yet prepared to redirect all its resources toward a full F1 entry.

Currently, Toyota is focused on evaluating the financial and human resource demands of a possible return. Kaji explained, “We’re not at a stage where we would redirect all our resources there. 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.”

Toyota’s gradual approach also extends to its involvement with other F1 teams. Recently, Ryo Hirakawa, Toyota’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) driver, joined the Alpine F1 team as a reserve driver for the 2025 season. This move strengthens Toyota’s connections within F1 while providing opportunities for its drivers to gain experience at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Kaji acknowledged the advantages of having a dedicated Toyota F1 team, stating, “If we had our own team, we could choose which drivers to put in the car. In that sense, it would bring us closer to putting drivers in F1.” However, he reiterated that significant investment in money and manpower would be required to achieve such a goal.

Toyota’s current stance reflects a cautious optimism about its F1 future. While Kaji previously ruled out becoming a works team or a power unit supplier, the company’s tone has shifted. In October, Kaji had remarked, “We have no plan to enter power unit supply at this moment. Actually, we have no plan to have a team in F1. At this moment, the best option is to collaborate with Haas.”

The gradual shift in Toyota’s outlook suggests that a full-fledged return to Formula 1 is under consideration, though not before 2030. By collaborating with Haas and integrating new technologies, Toyota is taking calculated steps toward a potential comeback, ensuring that any future involvement aligns with the company’s broader goals and capabilities.