Toyota has revealed it is "gradually moving" towards a full return to F1, having recently joined forces with Haas as the team's official technical partner.
That multi-year deal was announced in October, with the Japanese marque's branding adorning the American squad's cars from the 2024 United States Grand Prix onwards.
At the time, Masaya Kaji, Toyota Gazoo Racing's global director of motorsport, maintained that there were no plans to manufacturer a power unit or become a full works in F1 again.
However, ahead of the new season, Kaji, who has close ties to Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, has confirmed what is tantamount to a step-change in how the company is viewing a re-entry to Formula 1.
Having walked away from F1 at the end of 2009, the alliance with Haas was a first foray back into the championship and signified the potential for more involvement in the future, something that is now appearing more clearly on the horizon.
"We are, of course, studying the technologies for 2026 and even current technologies," Kaji told Motorsport.com. "I feel we’re gradually moving in that direction."
Nevertheless, he insists that does not mean any plans have been formalised, or that resources will be re-directed away from endurance racing or rallying, two disciplines that Toyota has focused its attention on in recent years.
"We’re not at a stage where we would redirect all our resources there [to a full F1 return]," Kaji explained. "What happens after 2030 is still uncertain. We’re working on various new technologies, so whether our vector aligns with F1 remains to be seen."
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Not putting the carriage before the horse
The partnership between Haas and Toyota also provides a pathway for young drivers in the latter's programme to advance up the single-seater ladder, potentially into F1.
Ryo Hirakawa, who was on McLaren's books last season and made his FP1 debut at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, took part in the young driver test for Haas at the Yas Marina Circuit the following week.
The 30-year-old has now joined Alpine as a test and reserve driver, an agreement that will see him again drive in FP1, at Suzuka, in front of his home crowd.
Whether that will ever lead to more extensive F1 opportunities for Hirakawa remains to be seen, but Kaji was sure to point out the advantage a works Toyota team would afford its drivers.
If we had our own team, we could choose which drivers to put in the car," he said before adding: "In that sense, it would indeed bring us closer to putting drivers in F1."
Although, he was also keen to state that Toyota would not put the carriage before the horse when making decisions about F1.
"But realistically, we have to evaluate how much money and how many staff members would be required to make that happen," he pointed out. "That’s why I don’t think we’re at the stage of saying, ‘Let’s start a team immediately.’
"For now, building partnerships, like with Haas, and working with various teams is what’s important.
"We’re not in a stage to leap over those steps. We need to focus on doing what we should be doing right now."
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