Toyota provides a huge hint about a possible F1 comeback:

— Toyota is gradually moving towards a full return to Formula 1, following a technical partnership with the Haas F1 team in 2024, confirmed by Masaya Kaji, Toyota’s director of global motorsport.

— Toyota withdrew from F1 in 2009 and has since achieved success in the World Endurance Championship and the World Rally Championship.

— The partnership with Haas came after Ayao Komatsu became Haas’s team principal, overseeing their best season since 2018.

— Toyota-backed driver Ryo Hirakawa was recently announced as Alpine’s new reserve driver and is set to participate in FP1 at Suzuka in April.

— Masaya Kaji emphasized that a full F1 return is under consideration but not imminent, citing the need to evaluate resources and align new technologies with F1’s direction:

“We are, of course, studying the technologies for 2026 and even current technologies. I feel we’re gradually moving in that direction. We’re not at a stage where we would redirect all our resources there [to a full comeback].”

“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.”

— Between 2002 and 2009, Toyota contested 140 races in F1, achieving 13 podiums and three pole positions.

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VIA: [PLANET F1: