Toyota insists it has no plans to return to Method 1 as an influence unit provider in future regardless of its new collaboration with Haas.
Haas at present 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 associate to assist improve its capabilities. Toyota Gazoo Racing challenge supervisor Masaya Kaji mentioned the involvement isn’t a precursor to a higher dedication when it comes to both staff possession or energy unit provide.
“Now we have no plan to have a staff in Method 1,” Kaji mentioned. “At this second we have now the best choice to collaborate with Haas.
“Relating to the facility unit, we have now no plan to enter energy unit supplying at this second.”
Kaji mentioned there have been discussions with different groups about potential partnerships, however that Haas proved to be the perfect collaboration as Toyota will assist set up a simulator in Banbury and be concerned in a Testing of Earlier Automotive (TPC) program.
“Now we have now a relationship with McLaren, with Ryo Hirakawa, and naturally we have now some connections with different groups,” he mentioned. “However really Haas and [Ayao] Komatsu-san is the very best associate as a result of our scope is precisely the identical, and we are able to strengthen the staff collectively. Our robust factors and weak factors match completely. So we discovered a great reply to collaborate with Haas and Komatsu-san.
“We are able to provide simulator companies and {hardware}, software program, all of the issues, and we can assist the TPC with the simulator facet, too. After all our simulator is now for WEC and buyer applications, however our simulator engineers are high degree and we are able to provide a great service. And we are able to study extra, by way of this challenge, about F1.”
The TPC program will present a chance for Toyota drivers to get expertise in F1 automobiles, and Komatsu mentioned that would even prolong right into a reserve driver place.
“That’s positively an open risk,” Komatsu mentioned. “As an example, for subsequent yr’s reserve driver, I haven’t really sat down with Fred (Vasseur, Ferrari staff principal, to debate) who is usually a reserve driver, or the motive force who’s in consideration.
“However simply to verify it’s clear, we aren’t speaking a few pay driver, no matter Toyota driver or non-Toyota driver. We’ll all the time be taking the very best driver for sporting outcomes. So the reserve driver would be the similar, we haven’t made any choices however we’re not ruling something out both. It’s based mostly on the competence of the motive force.”
