How Haas and Toyota partnership will affect current F1 deals with Ferrari and Dallara
Haas have separate technical collaboration deals with engine and gearbox suppliers Ferrari, chassis builders Dallara and now Toyota, who have returned to F1 after 15 years away
by Daniel Moxon · The MirrorHaas insist they do not intend to switch away from Ferrari engines while new partners Toyota claim they have no plans to re-enter Formula 1 as a power unit supplier - for now.
The Japanese carmaker is back involved in the sport after 15 years away, having teamed up with Haas on a new technical partnership. It means the American team now have separate deals with Toyota Gazoo Racing, Ferrari and chassis builders Dallara.
Speaking to reporters including Mirror Sport on Friday, team principal Ayao Komatsu asserted that the new collaboration with Toyota will not detract from its existing alliances. He said: "We are going to continue to use the Maranello wind tunnel [and], as long as the technical regulations permit, to buy the gearbox from Ferrari.
"Our partnership with Toyota, just to be clear, is not to replace the Ferrari partnership . The Ferrari-Haas partnership is the foundation and it's always going to be the foundation. This partnership is not to take away from it, but to enhance that fundamental partnership with Ferrari. What we have and what we get from Ferrari is amazing - that is really the foundation of the Haas F1 team.
"The areas where TGR can help us is outside of that. We've been completely transparent with Ferrari management from the early stages of these discussions so we both have a clear understanding of what engagement we have in which areas with TGR and how we need to protect the IP of each company.
"Dallara is our important partner. They've been with us from day one, they've been building our chassis from day one so that's another key important relationship. We've been discussing which parameters [on which] we'll keep working with Dallara, which parameters we're gonna work with Toyota, but we will co-exist.
"It's not to replace one another. We will keep the Maranello design office because nothing changes [in terms of] the fact that we are we are going to be buying a gearbox and suspension from Ferrari. So it makes sense to have our office in Maranello and also we continue to use the Ferrari wind tunnel, so our aerodynamicists will continue to be based there.
"We will start designing some other carbon composite parts by ourselves and then also start doing some testing and then simulator work - some other areas that contribute for the performance of the car. Were we house them exactly, whether it's in Maranello or the UK, is something we need to define in the future but, again, I stress that it's not to replace what we have with Ferrari."
Haas have used Ferrari engines since they first joined the F1 grid in 2016 and recently signed an extension to that deal which commits them to using the Italian firm's power units until at least 2028. Komatsu referenced that development as he said: "We signed with Ferrari until end of 2028 in terms of a technical partnership - power unit supply, gearbox supply etc.
"So, fundamentally, nothing is going to change as far as I'm concerned. This partnership has got nothing to do with PU side, it's purely on the chassis side in terms of a technical alliance." And Toyota Gazoo Racing project manager Masaya Kaji said of Toyota's intentions: "Regarding the power unit, unfortunately we have no plan to enter power supply at this moment."
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