Haas F1 join forces with Toyota Gazoo with a multi-year deal
The Toyota name will return to Formula One with Toyota Gazoo Racing. They will join forces with the Haas F1 team. With a multi-year deal signed by the two parties, the collaboration will already start at the next Grand Prix this season in Austin, Texas.
Toyota Gazoo, who have a rich history of competing in WEC and WRC, now become the 'Official Technical Partner' of Haas F1. The aim of the collaboration is to help Haas with the "development and competitive element" in Formula One, while Toyota Gazoo will "further develop its own knowledge and skills in a variety of areas through its involvement with the team competing at the leading edge of global motorsport."
Toyota have previously competed in F1 as a constructor from 2002 until 2009. Their most successful season took place in 2005 when the team finished fourth in the constructors' standings. Moreover, Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock stepped on the podium with the team.
Komatsu welcomes Toyota on board
Haas F1's team principal, Ayao Komatsu is looking forward to welcoming their new Japanese partners. "I’m hugely excited that MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing have come together to enter into this technical partnership. To have a world leader in the automotive sector support and work alongside our organization, while seeking to develop and accelerate their own technical and engineering expertise – it’s simply a partnership with obvious benefits on both sides."
"The ability to tap into the resources and knowledge base available at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, while benefiting from their technical and manufacturing processes, will be instrumental in our own development and our clear desire to further increase our competitiveness in Formula 1. In return we offer a platform for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to fully utilize and subsequently advance their in-house engineering capabilities," Komatsu continued.
"By competing alongside MoneyGram Haas F1 Team at the pinnacle of motorsports, we aim to cultivate drivers, engineers, and mechanics while strengthening the
capabilities of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, and we desire to contribute to motorsports and the automotive industry," Tomoya Takahashi, the President of Gazoo Racing Company said.
Will Haas F1's relationship change with Ferrari?
Since they joined the competition, the American team always had close ties to the Scuderia. However, that will not change, Komatsu explained. "I’m naturally pleased that we’ve had the support of the likes of Formula 1 and our long-term partner, Scuderia Ferrari – who we announced our further continuation with earlier in the season, in the formation of this new technical partnership – designed to achieve continued success in our Formula 1 endeavors."
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