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 presently 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 companion to assist enhance its capabilities. Toyota Gazoo Racing challenge supervisor Masaya Kaji stated the involvement is just not a precursor to a higher dedication by way of both workforce possession or energy unit provide.
“We’ve got 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.
“Concerning 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 best 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 one of the best companion as a result of our scope is strictly the identical, and we are able to 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 will provide simulator providers and {hardware}, software program, all of the issues, and we may help the TPC with the simulator facet, too. After all our simulator is now for WEC and buyer packages, however our simulator engineers are prime degree and we are able to provide a very good service. And we are able to be taught extra, via this challenge, about F1.”
The TPC program will present a possibility for Toyota drivers to get expertise in F1 vehicles, and Komatsu stated that would even prolong right into a reserve driver place.
“That’s undoubtedly an open risk,” 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 could be a reserve driver, or the driving force who’s in consideration.
“However simply to verify it’s clear, we aren’t speaking a couple of pay driver, no matter Toyota driver or non-Toyota driver. We’ll at all times be taking one of the best driver for sporting outcomes. So the reserve driver would be the identical, we haven’t made any selections however we’re not ruling something out both. It’s primarily based on the competence of the driving force.”