Toyota is set to enhance its involvement in Formula 1 by becoming the title sponsor of the Haas F1 Team in 2026. This announcement marks a significant milestone as Toyota replaces Moneygram, a digital payment firm, in this role.
Toyota’s Strategic Partnership with Haas F1 Team
The collaboration between Toyota and Haas began in 2024 with the establishment of a technical partnership through Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR). This partnership signifies Toyota’s return to Formula 1 after a 14-year hiatus. A key aspect of this agreement is the launch of Haas’s Testing of Previous Car (TPC) program, which began in 2025.
Driver Participation in Testing
During the TPC program, four Japanese drivers participated:
- Ryō Hirakawa
- Ritomo Miyata
- Sho Tsuboi
- Kamui Kobayashi
This initiative allowed these drivers to gain valuable experience, showcasing TGR’s commitment to nurturing talent in the sport.
Innovative Developments at Haas
A significant improvement is the installation of Haas’s first-ever personal simulator at their facility in Banbury, UK. This simulator is expected to be operational next season. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu highlighted the benefits of the partnership, noting the focus on developing critical human resources—drivers, engineers, and mechanics—to foster a sustainable motorsport culture.
Future Goals and Vision
Toyota’s Chairman, Akio Toyoda, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the transformation and potential observed among young TGR drivers and engineers throughout the 2025 season. He stated, “Toyota has finally begun to move—really move,” affirming a strong commitment to advancing the goals outlined in TGR’s “People, Product, Pipeline” strategy.
This strategy aims to cultivate a new generation of talent and prepare them for the world stage in motorsports.
Upcoming Events and Competition Status
The enhanced partnership will coexist alongside Haas’s existing agreement with Ferrari, which has been in place since 2016. This includes the supply of power units, gearboxes, and the use of Ferrari’s simulator in Maranello.
Haas is also gearing up for the 2026 season by revealing their new livery on January 23. Following the launch, they will proceed to Barcelona for private testing starting January 26. Currently, Haas sits in eighth place in the Teams’ Championship, trailing Aston Martin by just seven points as they head into the final race in Abu Dhabi.
