Toyota is deepening its return to Formula 1 after taking over the title sponsorship of the Haas team, marking its most significant involvement in the sport since withdrawing its works team in 2009.
Beginning in 2026, the team will compete as TGR Haas F1 Team, with ‘TGR’ representing Toyota Gazoo Racing, the motorsport division of Toyota Motor Corporation. The move adds another major manufacturer to the grid, following Cadillac’s preparations to enter F1 next year with General Motors’ backing.
The title sponsorship builds on a technical partnership signed between Haas and Toyota last year, covering research, engineering support, and driver development. Haas cars have already carried Toyota branding, and Toyota-linked Japanese drivers have participated in tests using older Haas machinery.
Despite the expanded collaboration, Haas will continue using Ferrari engines through 2028 under an existing supply agreement. Ferrari was consulted when the initial Toyota partnership was formed, reflecting the long-standing ties between the two teams.
Toyota previously operated its own F1 team from 2002 to 2009 but failed to win a race despite significant investment. The company withdrew during a period of financial strain, and chairman Akio Toyoda has since expressed regret over the decision, particularly regarding missed opportunities for young Japanese drivers.
Announcing the new partnership, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said deepening the relationship with Toyota Gazoo Racing was a privilege, adding that the technical collaboration had already benefited us greatly.
Toyoda said he had witnessed Toyota’s younger drivers and engineers gaining confidence over the past season and described the company’s renewed momentum in motorsport, saying, “Toyota has begun to move. Really move.”
Details about the duration of the sponsorship were not disclosed, with the announcement referencing only the 2026 season.
Haas joined Formula 1 in 2016 and currently sits eighth in the constructors’ standings. The team’s highlight this season was Oliver Bearman’s fourth-place finish in Mexico, its best result since 2018, though still short of securing its first-ever podium.
The 2025 championship concludes this Sunday in Abu Dhabi, with a close three-way title fight. McLaren’s Lando Norris leads by 12 points over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, while Oscar Piastri, also of McLaren, is 16 points behind. Norris and Piastri are chasing their first world titles, and Verstappen is aiming for his fifth consecutive crown.
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