MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, the motorsport competition and R&D division of Toyota Motor Corporation, have officially entered a strategic, multi-year partnership, with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing becoming the ‘Official Technical Partner’ of the only American team in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. This collaboration marks a significant development in both organizations’ efforts to enhance their competitive edge in motorsport.
Under the terms of this new partnership, the two parties will exchange valuable expertise and resources. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will provide advanced design, technical, and manufacturing services, while the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team will contribute its technical knowledge and offer commercial advantages. This collaboration is not just about enhancing the Haas team’s development and competitiveness in Formula 1 but also about Toyota advancing its own skills and technological capabilities through its involvement in the highest tier of motorsport. It’s a win-win situation that promises exciting developments in the future.
Toyota’s legacy in motorsport spans over six decades, with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing currently leading successful entries in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). With this partnership, Toyota steps back into Formula 1, a move that carries significant historical weight and will undoubtedly stir up nostalgia among motorsport fans. This is a return and a strategic move to leverage the opportunity to expand its engineering and technical prowess. From the United States Grand Prix, held on October 18-20 at the Circuit of The Americas, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s branding will prominently feature on MoneyGram Haas F1 Team’s VF-24 cars driven by Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Formula 1 history.
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“I’m hugely excited that MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing have come together to enter into this technical partnership,” said Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. “To have a global automotive leader like Toyota partner with us and share their world-class engineering capabilities presents a unique opportunity for our team. The ability to access TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s vast resources, technical processes, and manufacturing capabilities will play a pivotal role in our ambition to strengthen our performance on the grid. At the same time, we offer a dynamic platform for Toyota to develop its own technologies and expertise further in a competitive environment.”
Komatsu also acknowledged the critical support from Formula 1 and Scuderia Ferrari, Haas’ long-term partner, in facilitating the partnership. “I’d specifically like to thank Stefano Domenicali (CEO – Formula 1) and Fred Vasseur (Team Principal – Scuderia Ferrari) for their continued backing, as well as Gene Haas for his ongoing leadership. I also want to extend my gratitude to Akio Toyoda (Chairman – Toyota Motor Corporation), Tomoya Takahashi (President – GAZOO Racing Company), and Masaya Kaji (Project Manager – GAZOO Racing Company) for their commitment to this groundbreaking alliance.”
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Tomoya Takahashi, President of GAZOO Racing Company, echoed the sentiment: “We are pleased to announce our collaboration with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. This partnership provides us with a fantastic opportunity to enhance our technical capabilities while supporting Haas in their Formula 1 endeavors. Together, we aim to cultivate the next generation of drivers, engineers, and mechanics while contributing to advancements in motorsports and the automotive industry. We deeply thank Gene Haas, Ayao Komatsu, and our partners for making this exciting project a reality.”
As the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team prepares for the 2024 United States Grand Prix, the partnership with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing adds renewed energy to their campaign. Currently standing seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, just three points behind sixth place, the team is determined to close the gap as they race on home turf. Fans and motorsport enthusiasts alike will be watching closely as this innovative collaboration unfolds and sets the stage for a new chapter in Haas F1’s quest for success on the global stage.
