Toyota clarifies its technical collaboration with Haas, emphasizing it’s not a full return to Formula 1 competition.
Haas F1 and Toyota confirmed overnight (in France) that they have signed a technical partnership, thereby confirming a rumor that had been circulating for several months.
However, during its press conference, Toyota emphasized that this should not be seen as a return of the brand to F1. This technical collaboration with Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsport division, is far from what Toyota did with its own team in the 2000s.
“Please ensure that headlines don’t say: ‘Toyota finally returns to F1.’ It would be far better to see headlines and articles that inspire Japanese children to dream that they too might one day drive the fastest cars in the world,” said Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s CEO.
The Japanese automaker’s goal seems clear: to inspire the next generation of young Japanese to dream about F1, and possibly even to reach it.
“Although I’m not a professional race driver, I’m surrounded by many professionals who don’t hesitate to drive alongside me. Among them recently, there have been drivers who grew up with Honda and race drivers who have worked with Toyota for a long time.”
“I feel something when I speak to professional race drivers. It’s that everyone wants to drive the fastest cars in the world. I think that’s just the nature of drivers.”
“That said, I’m the one who made the decision to leave F1 back then. So, I think the drivers never really felt free to talk about it in front of me. There was always this somewhat inhibiting atmosphere in our garage.”
“In January this year, I publicly said that I had finally become just an older guy who loves cars. I think deep down, this older guy, Akio Toyoda, who loves cars, has always regretted closing the path for young Japanese drivers to race the fastest cars in the world by pulling out of F1.”
“That said, while the media follows my every move, I would add that I still believe my decision to withdraw from F1 as the president of Toyota was not a mistake.”
“Not long ago, I had the opportunity to speak with the team principal, Ayao Komatsu. Mr. Komatsu is someone who has nurtured great dreams. But behind him was his father, who always allowed him to freely pursue those dreams.”
“Mr. Komatsu and I ultimately shared the same desire to be a ‘father’ who allows his children to chase their dreams. Mr. Komatsu, I owe you my thanks. The Super Formula drivers over there, both Toyota and Honda drivers, all grew up as children behind the wheel of go-karts.”
“I believe there are many children across the country who, admiring those cars, are also driving karts. I think that with Mr. Komatsu and his team, we need to increase the number of those children. But before that, I would like to see the day when a Super Formula driver takes the wheel of the fastest cars in the world.”
“Mr. Komatsu, and all the members of Haas, I look forward to working with you for the benefit of Japanese motorsports.”
Tomoya Takahashi, the CEO of Gazoo Racing, also emphasized: “Some may jump to the conclusion: ‘Toyota is back in F1!’ But that is not the case.”
“This Haas F1 car carries the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing logo. We, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, and the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team have agreed to a technical partnership regarding the development of young drivers and others, as well as the development of Haas F1 Team’s vehicles.”
“Why are we entering into this technical partnership? Let me explain. TGR has implemented a ‘driver-focused’ approach to car manufacturing, as strongly advocated by President Akio Toyoda, and we incorporate the feedback of professional drivers into the development of production vehicles.”
“This is where the three key elements—people, pipeline, and product—become important. ‘People’ refers to the development of drivers, engineers, and mechanics. ‘Pipeline’ refers to the analysis and use of data. And ‘product’ refers to vehicle development.”
“Through this technical partnership, we aim to further strengthen our people and learn about the pipeline, which is one of Haas’s strengths in F1, and apply it to our product development.”
“Of the three elements starting with the letter ‘P,’ allow me to explain in more detail what ‘people’ and the ‘pipeline’ entail.”
“I’ll begin with ‘people.’ As you all know, F1 is the pinnacle of motorsports. The active roles of F1 drivers, engineers, and mechanics can inspire children, giving them dreams, aspirations, and goals.”
“For TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, it is critically important to offer this hope to the children who will one day shape the future of the automotive industry. To that end, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, in collaboration with the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, has decided to establish a new driver development program aimed at training drivers who aspire to the highest level of motorsport.”
“Specifically, TGR’s trainee drivers will take part in Haas F1 Team’s testing sessions to gain F1 driving experience.”
“Through this partnership, we believe it would be fantastic to develop drivers capable of securing F1 seats in the future. And this time, the challenges won’t be limited to the drivers alone. TGR’s engineers and mechanics will also join the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team at the pinnacle of motorsport in F1.”
“More specifically, they will contribute to the development of F1 aerodynamics using TGR’s manufacturing capabilities, which the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has highly valued, and will design and produce carbon fiber parts under simulated extreme operational conditions.”
“I’d now like to address the ‘pipeline.’ Through this partnership, TGR aims to learn from MoneyGram Haas F1 Team’s strengths in data utilization, such as their expertise in sharing the large volumes of data collected during races with locations around the world, analyzing it immediately, and applying it swiftly in strategic race planning.”
“Up to now, I’ve only discussed strengthening people and the pipeline, which involve skills and knowledge that can only be cultivated by racing alongside the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team at the highest level of motorsports.”
“I believe this will lead to the ‘product’ element, in other words, the development of human resources capable of providing feedback on production vehicles.”
- You may also like>Rosberg: Stars Alone Won’t Secure F1 Victory for Aston
- Also make sure you follow us on social media>Facebook and>Twitter
Toyota Explains Haas Partnership: No F1 Return Yet Toyota Explains Haas Partnership: No F1 Return Yet. f1 2024 Toyota Explains Haas Partnership: No F1 Return Yet
