Toyota is back in the name of a Formula 1 team. A decade and a half after the factory withdrew from the pinnacle of motorsport, the Japanese manufacturer has announced that it will be the title partner of the US racing team Haas from the 2026 season. The team will officially be called Toyota Gazoo Racing Haas F1 Team, or TGR Haas F1 Team for short.

TGR is Toyota’s motorsport-focused research and development arm, which is responsible for developing new technologies and designing new vehicles for use in motorsports. As outlined in the announcement, the expanded partnership with Haas is intended to strengthen Toyota’s “core objectives”, supporting the development of key talent, including drivers, engineers and mechanics, and ultimately aiming to build a sustainable motorsport industry and culture.

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Haas’ reaction to the title sponsor coming on board

The opportunity to deepen the team’s collaboration with Toyota has been described as a “privilege” by Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu. The manufacturer formally partnered with Haas at the end of 2024, conducting 14 days of testing with the 2023 Haas VF-23 in 2025.

Four Japanese drivers took part in the programme: Ryo Hirakawa, a seasoned endurance racer and Le Mans winner; Ritomo Miyata, the reigning Super Formula and Super GT champion; Sho Tsuboi, a highly regarded Super Formula race winner; and Kamui Kobayashi, the former Formula 1 driver and multiple World Endurance Championship title-holder.

The tests served to “support the sporting ambitions of up-and-coming talent”.

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A lot happens ‘behind the scenes’ at Haas

However, Komatsu stresses that the test drives with vintage Formula 1 cars represent only the visible element of the partnership between Haas and Toyota.

“A lot also happened behind the scenes, including the development and installation of the 2026 simulator at our Banbury facility. Promoting personnel has helped us enormously, and this effect will continue to grow as our partnership grows,” says Komatsu.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda is of the same mind. He says he was “very happy to see that young TGR drivers and engineers started to believe in themselves and had big dreams.” The Toyota Group is now emulating this approach. “I can say with conviction today that Toyota has finally started moving, really moving,” Toyoda explains.

“With the deepening of our partnership with Haas next year, the TGR mantra of ‘People, Product, Pipeline’ will gain momentum in a way we have never experienced before. The time has come for the next generation to take their first steps on the world stage. Together with Haas, we will build a culture and a team for the future.”

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Date set for the big reveal

The first milestone in this new chapter will be reached on 23 January 2026, when Haas will unveil the livery of its next Formula 1 challenger during an online launch event. With Toyota stepping in as a key partner, their branding will replace that of MoneyGram, the team’s main title sponsor since 2023.

Haas is also maintaining continuity in terms of its drivers. Oliver Bearman will remain with the team for his second full season in Formula 1, building on the promise he demonstrated as a highly rated Ferrari Academy graduate and standout junior champion. He will be joined by Esteban Ocon, who continues as the team’s experienced anchor. Ocon brings with him more than a decade of Formula 1 experience, a race-winning pedigree and the technical input that Haas values during its transition with Toyota. Both drivers are expected to play an integral role in propelling the team forward in 2026.

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NEXT ARTICLE – McLaren U-Turn over Zak Brown’s stated principle in Abu Dhabi

For the best part of a year and a half, wander into the McLaren garage on a race weekend and the phrase ‘papaya rules’ is never far from anyone’s lips. The first reference to the team’s internal code of conduct for its drivers was made at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix.

There Andrea Stella use the term in a post qualifying interview stating: “Our recommendation is always racing with the papaya rules, whereby, when the car is papaya, like you are always careful with any other competitor, but if the car is papaya, you take even extra care.”

Yet almost before the world new the further details of McLaren’s driver code of contact, Oscar Piastri made risky move on the opening lap of the race to overtake his team mate who had claimed pole position.

 

The birth of ‘papaya rules’

The crucial part of the move meant Norris had to run wide to avoid Piastri and this let through Charles Leclerc who wet on to win the race. Suddenly, the papaya rule book began to grow to include the underlying principal, “the interests of the team come first.”

McLaren insist to the point of distraction that their drivers are free to race, so long as the operate under the code devised. By the team. Further, they have refused to instigate team orders to further one drivers’ championship claims over the others although instructions from the pit wall have been issued despite this claim.

The emphasis on being fair to both drivers has created some excruciating moments like in Monza this year, where Norris was leading his team mate but behind Verstappen who was ahead of the field.

Norris was entitled to the first pit stop, but relinquished this to ensure his team mate was not undercut by Charles Leclerc. A solid change of tyres for Piastri saw him keep the Ferrari rival behind…READ MORE ON THIS STORY