Toyota wants its driver to get a seat at Haas.

      The cooperation between Haas F1 and Toyota Gazoo Racing is gradually becoming more extensive, and in 2026 the Japanese corporation’s motorsport division will become the team’s title partner.

      It is no surprise that among Toyota’s most promising and fastest factory drivers competing in other racing series there are those who dream of reaching Formula 1, for example Rio Hirakawa, who has already driven Haas cars several times in tests and practice sessions.

      When Ayo Komatsu was asked whether negotiations with Toyota had included the possibility of one of the Japanese drivers joining Haas’s main lineup, the head of the American team answered in the affirmative: “Yes, of course. Toyota has many tasks, and one of them is personnel development, including drivers.

      But the main factor here is their results. Anyone who gets behind the wheel of our car must be the best choice in terms of the ability to deliver results on track. Everyone agrees with this, even Akio Toyoda (president of Toyota Motor Corporation), even if he wanted it to be a Japanese driver from Toyota’s academy.

      But if we took a driver who isn’t good enough, that would be an unserious approach, because people would start saying that Toyota is simply buying a seat on the team with money. Akio-san doesn’t do that, and neither do we. We always choose those who can deliver results.”

      Toyota’s factory drivers compete in various categories, including the WEC, the domestic Super Formula series, and the World Rally Championship. By the way, 25-year-old Finn Kalle Rovanperä, a two-time WRC champion, is preparing with Toyota’s support to first try his hand in Super Formula, but with an eye on Formula 2, and after that everything will depend solely on his results on track.

      At the same time Komatsu denies that the Japanese corporation plans to ultimately gain full control of Haas F1. The aim of the partnership is precisely to train racing and engineering personnel.