Toyota Officially Returns to Formula 1!

Toyota is back. Or, borrowing a line from Eminem, it’s back again—because over the past year, the automaker had been cautiously re-entering the world of Formula 1 through a technical partnership with the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. Now the two sides have announced a major step forward: starting with the 2026 season, Toyota will become Haas’ title sponsor. As a result, the team will be renamed TGR Haas F1 Team, with TGR standing for Toyota Gazoo Racing.

“For us, it’s obviously a great honor to deepen our relationship with TGR through this new title partnership agreement,” said Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu.

“Our working relationship so far has fully met our expectations. That’s been reflected in the successful Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program this season, but there’s been much more going on behind the scenes—including the development and installation of a simulator at our Banbury facility for 2026.

“The training of personnel and the close interaction between the Haas F1 Team and TGR have brought significant benefits, and those will only grow as the partnership develops. We’re very much looking forward to further progress, including within our driver development program and the talent pipeline supported by TGR.”

Toyota currently has several Japanese drivers under contract who have taken part in testing the older Haas VF-23 car over the past year. This appears to have been Haas’ first fully fledged TPC program, involving Ryo Hirakawa, Ritomo Miyata, Sho Tsuboi, and Kamui Kobayashi.

So far, there’s been no confirmation on whether Toyota will have any direct influence over Haas’ driver lineup. Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman are already confirmed for the 2026 season. Still, it raises an interesting question: could Japanese drivers knock on the door if the current pairing struggles under Formula 1’s new regulations? It certainly seems possible.

“Throughout our challenges during the 2025 season, I watched young TGR drivers and engineers begin to believe in their own potential and set their sights on even bigger dreams,” said Akio Toyoda, commenting on the expanded partnership.

“Seeing that transformation deeply moved me. And today, I can say with confidence that Toyota has finally started moving—truly moving. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for standing alongside our young people, believing in their potential, and sharing the same passion and vision for the future.

“As our partnership with Haas takes another step forward next year, TGR’s philosophy of ‘People, Product, and Potential’ will accelerate in ways we’ve never seen before. It’s time for the next generation to take its first steps onto the global stage.”

The newly named TGR Haas F1 Team will unveil its updated livery on January 23. Private testing is scheduled to begin a few days later in Barcelona.