Panasonic Toyota Racing was a Formula One team owned by the Japanese auto manufacture the ToyotaMotor Corporation. It was based in Cologne, Germany and announced its intentions to join the sport in 1999. After extensive testing the team was ready to join the grid in 2002 with they TF101 which scored a point in their first ever F1 outing.

Yet over the next several seasons Toyota was heavily criticised for having the biggest budget in F1 (a reported $1bn) but never being able to claim a Grand Prix win. Notable drivers for the team over the years included Mika Salo, Jarno Truli, Ralf Schumacher, Timo Glock and Kamui Kobayashi.

On November 9th 2009 Toyota announced its immediate withdrawal from F1 ending the teams involvement for eight consecutive seasons. In a similar fashion to Honda handing over their 2009 car to Brawn who went and won both championships, there are a number of people in the industry who believe the 2010 Toyota F1 challenger, which was developed but never raced, was one of the most technically advanced F1 car in terms of aerodynamics ever seen.

 

 

 

Toyota unimpressed by FIA recruitment drive

Toyota were not persuaded by the FIA’s drive to engage new manufacturers in Formula One, whilst they participated in the FIA 2017 working party for the new power units, they were never as committed to the project as the likes of Audi and Porsche.

The come October 2024, the Haas F1 team announced a technical partnership with Toyota, which will provide to the team with design, technical and manufacturing services from Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR). This includes all the activities the FIA insist an F1 team must provide independently of any other and so it compliments the Ferrari partnership Haas have developed and longer term will reduce the current outsourcing to the likes of Dalara.

At the big announcement, Toyota chairman Aki Toyota was keen to emphasise this did not signify a potential return by Toyota in becoming a fully fledged F1 team again. Yet just a few months later in January this year, TGR director of global motorsport Masaya Kaji admitted that Toyota is in fact looking at a return to F1.

Since the sacking of Gunther Steiner, the Haas F1 team has more of a Japanese air to it than previously. Team boss Ayao Komatsu has worked wonders with the USA based team improving the final standings in the constructors by three places to seventh at the end of his first year in 2024.

Ferrari boss told to ‘shut down’ Hamilton complaints

 

 

 

Haas F1 parent company in trouble

Haas has been keen to emphasise its continued relationship with Ferrari with Komastu explaining to the Japan Times recently, “This team doesn’t exist without Ferrari. What Toyota is bringing to us is in the areas that Ferrari can’t help us, by the regulations.”

Today the parent company for Haas F1 has announced that the recent massive hike in import tariffs is putting its US toolmaking business under significant pressure. Haas Automation employs thousands of US citizens but its existence relies on being able to import raw materials and certain single components from China.

A statement today from the company read: “In recent days, we’ve seen a dramatic decrease in demand for our machine tools from both domestic and foreign customers. Out of caution, we have reduced production and eliminated overtime at our sole manufacturing plant in Oxnard, California, where we employ 1,700 workers and have been in operation since 1983. We have also halted hiring and put new employment requisitions on hold.”

Haas are pleading with the US administration for “tariff exemptions for raw materials and components vital to the US machine tool industry, and maintain tariffs for imported machine tools.” Yet this significant US company must now stand in line with the likes of presidents and prime ministers from across the world, all keen to persuade Donald Trump that their case too is the exception from the new world order.

Trouble over Colapinto’s times in secret test

 

 

 

Toyota deliver in house F1 design and build operations

Under the radar of the F1 headlines just days ago tea boss Komatsu revealed he was ready to deepen ties with Toyota. “Of course, we are thinking about what we can do short term, medium term, long term, but really we are still at the stage of understanding each other,” he said.

The TGR boss had previously admitted there were no immediate plans for the Japanese organisation to turn Haas into a works Toyota team but he did reference the importance that ‘being on the grid’ meant to Toyota.

“(Leaving F1) closed the door for our people, drivers, mechanics, engineers, for them to challenge the top category, Formula 1,” he said. So the first thing is people’s motivation is a great thing for us and for technology, I think that will be from now. It’s just the beginning.”

So the story presented is summarised as follows. Despite no apparent interest in having its own Formula One team, Toyota feels its important for its motorsport folk to get experience in the sport. This just doesn’t stack up and as a purely academic exercise would be a waste of Haas F1’s time.

Is F1 about to break manufacturers control?

 

 

 

Toyota to get a deal from Gene Haas?

Unlike Audi who have blundered in regardless with the rubbing rags of the F1 teams, Sauber, Toyota appear to be playing softly softly catch a monkey. Yet if financial troubles strike Gene Haas, whilst the F1 team is self funding he may choose to realise the $1.02bn valuation recently placed upon it by blackbookmotorsport.com

In this case Toyota would need to make a snap decision on whether this is the opportunity they have been waiting for, even if its come sooner than they’d hoped for. Given Haas F1 HQ is headquartered in Annapolis, North Carolina and is adjacent to its NASCAR facility, the team will be hit with import duties along with the rest of US based business. 

Haas F1 does not make any of its own components for their F1 car and most of them are imported from Europe now under a 20% import tariff. Toyota would wish to relocate the team’s HQ away from the US, and so the valuation of Haas F1 may take somewhat of a hit in final negotiations.

The Trump new world order appears its tentacles will reach even into Formula One affecting costs for the teams who leave equipment in North America from year to year.  This kit would be treated as an import into the USA and as such be liable to tariffs, though from the UK thats a mere 10%.

Toyota have a rich history in global motorsport, winning multiple Le Mans and endurance car titles. It would be fascinating how they take a reasonably successful kit car F1 team and over the years develop it into a full works based outfit, maybe with the next but one generations of F1 engines built in house too.

Red Bull replaces Verstappen in Bahrain

 

 

 

 

McLaren “BIZARRE” admission about their 2025 car

In the cooler temperatures of Suzuka and with a new smooth resurfaced track, F1 fans were treated to a rare occasion where the drivers were pushing flat out for most of the Grand Prix. Surprisingly, McLaren were unable to demonstrate their incremental pace over Red Bull as Max Verstappen drove the perfect weekend claiming pole and his third win over the last seven races.

Prior to F1’s visit to Japan, the talk in the paddock was focused on around how far ahead of the field were McLaren. With wins in the first two Grand Prix of 2025 and a 1-2 in China, the Woking based team were riding high on the road to the land of the rising sun.

Lando Norris claimed after pre-season testing that McLaren had “no excuses” this year as they seek to build on their constructors’ championship success and admits the MCL39 is the quickest car in the current field….READ MORE