Motor racing-Toyota returns to F1 with Haas technical partnership
Toyota and Haas announce technical partnership
Haas to continue using Ferrari engines
No plan for Toyota to return with own team or engine
Adds comments from Toyota chairman, paragraphs 9-11, background on team and partnership throughout
By Alan Baldwin
Oct 11 (Reuters) -The U.S.-owned Haas Formula One team and Toyota announced a multi-year technical partnership on Friday in a move bringing Japan's biggest carmaker back to grand prix racing for the first time since 2009.
The smallest team on the starting grid will continue to use Ferrari power units, and work closely with Maranello as well as chassis design partner Dallara, after agreeing in July a contract extension to the end of 2028.
The partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing, the carmaker's motorsport division, starts immediately with branding on the cars driven by Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen at next week's U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
Toyota Gazoo Racing will become Haas' official technical partner with both parties sharing expertise, knowledge and resources.
The Japanese carmaker will provide design, technical and manufacturing services and use the partnership to develop young drivers, engineers and mechanics through a testing of previous car programme.
Toyota, who poured money into Formula One between 2002-09 with a team that failed to win a race, said there was no plan to build an engine or have a factory outfit again.
"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," said Haas' Japanese principal Ayao Komatsu.
"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."
WITHDRAWAL 'NOT WRONG'
Toyota are active in the world rally championship and endurance racing but company chairman Akio Toyoda told a press conference at the Fuji circuit that he wanted to open a path for Japanese drivers to drive the world's fastest cars.
He said that "somewhere deep in his heart" he had always regretted having blocked that path by making the decision to quit Formula One.
"That said, with the media watching my every step, I dare to add that I still believe my decision as the president of Toyota to withdraw from F1 (in 2009) was not wrong," he added.
Japan's only active F1 driver is Yuki Tsunoda, a Honda protege who races for Red Bull's RB team and whose future is uncertain after next year.
Gazoo Racing president Tomoya Takahashi hoped the partnership could "develop drivers who can secure regular seats in F1 in the future".
"And it will not only be drivers taking on challenges this time," he added. "TGR engineers and mechanics will also join MoneyGram Haas F1 Team at the motorsports pinnacle of F1."
Haas, seventh in the current standings, will have an all-new lineup next year of Frenchman Esteban Ocon and British rookie Oliver Bearman, the Ferrari reserve who has raced twice this season as a stand-in at Ferrari and Haas.
Honda, who sold their Formula One team in 2008, returned as an engine maker in 2015 and currently partner champions Red Bull. In 2026 they will be starting a new and exclusive relationship with Aston Martin.
Toyota last month announced the end of its sponsorship of the Olympics and Paralympics.
Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London; Editing by Toby Davis and Alison Williams
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