After exiting Formula One 15 years ago, Toyota has signed a technical partnership with the Haas team.
The deal will see Toyota provide design, technical and manufacturing services to the US outfit, which currently lies seventh out of 10 teams in the F1 constructor standings.
However, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda insists that the partnership does not constitute an actual “return to F1”, although the Haas cars will reportedly feature some Toyota branding, from the United States Grand Prix in Texas later this month.
The partnership will also see Toyota Gazoo Racing’s training drivers as well as engineers and mechanics participating in Haas F1 test drives, in order to analyse “vast amounts of data” and learn more about the sport.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said he was extremely excited to work alongside Toyota and lauded the mutual benefits:
"To have a world leader in the automotive sector support and work alongside our organisation, while seeking to develop and accelerate their own technical and engineering expertise, it's simply a partnership with obvious benefits on both sides," Komatsu said.
“The ability to tap into the resources and knowledge base available at Toyota Gazoo Racing, while benefiting from their technical and manufacturing processes, will be instrumental in our own development and our clear desire to further increase our competitiveness in Formula One.”
Haas will also continue its current partnership with Scuderia Ferrari, while its driver line-up for 2025 onwards will include the newly-signed Esteban Ocon as well as 19-year-old Oliver Bearman.
Toyota competed as an official F1 works team for eight seasons until the end of 2009, but its tenure fell short of being successful, with no grand prix wins recorded, although the Japanese team did achieve 13 podium finishes, and its best constructors’ championship ranking was fourth place in 2005.
IOL