Toyota insists it has no plans to return to Formulation 1 as an influence unit provider in future regardless of its new collaboration with Haas.
Haas at present makes use of the Ferrari energy unit, gearbox and suspension as a part of an settlement with the Italian constructor, however has introduced Toyota as its official technical accomplice to assist improve its capabilities. Toyota Gazoo Racing undertaking supervisor Masaya Kaji stated the involvement shouldn’t be a precursor to a higher dedication by way of both workforce possession or energy unit provide.
“We’ve no plan to have a workforce in Formulation 1,” Kaji stated. “At this second we have now the most suitable choice to collaborate with Haas.
“Relating to the ability unit, we have now no plan to enter energy unit supplying at this second.”
Kaji stated there have been discussions with different groups about potential partnerships, however that Haas proved to be the perfect collaboration as Toyota will assist set up a simulator in Banbury and be concerned in a Testing of Earlier Automobile (TPC) program.
“Now we have now a relationship with McLaren, with Ryo Hirakawa, and naturally we have now some connections with different groups,” he stated. “However truly Haas and [Ayao] Komatsu-san is the very best accomplice as a result of our scope is strictly the identical, and we will strengthen the workforce collectively. Our robust factors and weak factors match completely. So we discovered a very good reply to collaborate with Haas and Komatsu-san.
“We are able to provide simulator companies and {hardware}, software program, all of the issues, and we may also help the TPC with the simulator aspect, too. After all our simulator is now for WEC and buyer packages, however our simulator engineers are high stage and we will provide a very good service. And we will study extra, via this undertaking, about F1.”
The TPC program will present a possibility for Toyota drivers to get expertise in F1 automobiles, and Komatsu stated that would even lengthen right into a reserve driver place.
“That’s positively an open chance,” Komatsu stated. “As an illustration, for subsequent 12 months’s reserve driver, I haven’t truly sat down with Fred (Vasseur, Ferrari workforce principal, to debate) who is usually a reserve driver, or the motive force who’s in consideration.
“However simply to verify it’s clear, we’re not speaking a few pay driver, no matter Toyota driver or non-Toyota driver. We’ll at all times be taking the very best driver for sporting outcomes. So the reserve driver would be the similar, we haven’t made any selections however we’re not ruling something out both. It’s based mostly on the competence of the motive force.”