Toyota insists it has no plans to return to System 1 as an influence unit provider in future regardless of its new collaboration with Haas.
Haas at present makes use of the Ferrari energy unit, gearbox and suspension as a part of an settlement with the Italian constructor, however has introduced Toyota as its official technical associate to assist enhance its capabilities. Toyota Gazoo Racing venture supervisor Masaya Kaji mentioned the involvement will not be a precursor to a better dedication by way of both group possession or energy unit provide.
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“We’ve no plan to have a group in System 1,” Kaji mentioned. “At this second we’ve the best choice to collaborate with Haas.
“Relating to the facility unit, we’ve no plan to enter energy unit supplying at this second.”
Kaji mentioned there have been discussions with different groups about potential partnerships, however that Haas proved to be the perfect collaboration as Toyota will assist set up a simulator in Banbury and be concerned in a Testing of Earlier Automotive (TPC) program.
“Now we’ve a relationship with McLaren, with Ryo Hirakawa, and naturally we’ve some connections with different groups,” he mentioned. “However truly Haas and [Ayao] Komatsu-san is one of the best associate as a result of our scope is precisely the identical, and we are able to strengthen the group collectively. Our sturdy factors and weak factors match completely. So we discovered an excellent reply to collaborate with Haas and Komatsu-san.
“We will provide simulator providers and {hardware}, software program, all of the issues, and we might help the TPC with the simulator aspect, too. In fact our simulator is now for WEC and buyer packages, however our simulator engineers are high degree and we are able to provide an excellent service. And we are able to study extra, via this venture, about F1.”
The TPC program will present a possibility for Toyota drivers to get expertise in F1 automobiles, and Komatsu mentioned that might even prolong right into a reserve driver place.
“That’s positively an open chance,” Komatsu mentioned. “As an illustration, for subsequent yr’s reserve driver, I haven’t truly sat down with Fred (Vasseur, Ferrari group principal, to debate) who generally is a reserve driver, or the motive force who’s in consideration.
“However simply to ensure it’s clear, we aren’t speaking a few pay driver, no matter Toyota driver or non-Toyota driver. We’ll all the time be taking one of the best driver for sporting outcomes. So the reserve driver would be the similar, we haven’t made any selections however we’re not ruling something out both. It’s based mostly on the competence of the motive force.”
