Toyota make 'cultivation' claim after Haas F1 tie-up

Toyota is aiming to "cultivate" the framework of an F1 team after announcing its return to grand prix racing with the Haas team. 

Under the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) arm, Toyota is to join Haas as the "official technical partner" with immediate effect, with branding in place on the cars of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg from the upcoming United States Grand Prix.

The partnership will see TGR provide "design, technical and manufacturing" services on a multi-year agreement. As RacingNews365 wrote earlier this year, a power unit project is not under consideration for 2026.

It is the company's first involvement with F1 since 2009, with the world's largest car group aiming to "cultivate" a new generation into F1.

"We are pleased to announce that Haas F1 Team and Toyota Gazoo Racing have concluded a basic agreement to enter a technical partnership such as Haas vehicle development," said Tomoya Takahashi, the president of Toyota Gazoo Racing.

"We would like to express our gratitude to Gene Haas, Ayao Komatsu, Stefano Domenicali, and Frederic Vasseur, and all our existing partners of the team for their exceptional cooperation and understanding in this collaboration. 

"By competing alongside Haas F1 Team at the pinnacle of motorsports, we aim to cultivate drivers, engineers, and mechanics while strengthening the capabilities of Haas F1 Team and Toyota Gazoo Racing, and we desire to contribute to motorsports and the automotive industry."