Progress is being made :
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/formula-1/ ... 53880.html
Might not finish better than 8th, but progress is being made.
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When asked by Motorsport.com if he had been surprised by this return given Formula 2 driver Bearman's lack of experience at the top level, Komatsu insisted: "I'm not surprised.
"But this is not to take anything away from Ollie. I'm not surprised because I've seen so much good stuff with him in the FP1s that that's what I expected.
"The very first time he drove for us in Mexico FP1 - what really impressed me was his ability to understand the bigger picture – understand the role he needs to play, what he needs to execute [and] when. And also how quickly he can learn.
Komatsu also hailed Bearman's "maturity" when asked to swap positions with temporary team-mate Nico Hulkenberg during the first Baku race stint – as the Briton was lapping too slowly obeying Haas's instructions on tyre management, when Hulkenberg was showing the tyres could sustain a surprise harder pace on the tricky street circuit.
"What he showed in the race when we had to ask swap positions during the first stint, and then... he wasn't happy," Komatsu added. "Which I can totally understand why. But then, even though he was unhappy about it, he just did it. He didn't then not let Nico by, and then delayed it for another lap or two. So again, that just shows the maturity, right? It's great.
Bearman following the Mercedes past Hulkenberg showed his "awareness and calmness", per Komatsu.
"That's another thing – he's always calm, even when he's upset or facing the adversity. He's just very calm, and even that yellow flag situation towards the end of the race with the big accident, lots of debris - but again he was calm.He had a presence of mind to say, 'OK, Nico's not on it' [and] just went."
https://www.motor.es/formula-1/toyota-v ... 04588.htmlToyota has already begun negotiations for its return to Formula 1
The hybrid era beckons for the inventor of hybrid powertrains, and the world's biggest carmaker couldn't be left out of what is set to be a revolution in the sport in 2026. That's why Toyota is making plans for the long term.
Toyota's experience in motorsport's highest category was bad. Not average, poor or deficient, but bad and full of disappointments. After nine seasons, and billions of euros invested, they took neither titles nor victories to their showcases. That is why they want to return, but not in any way.
Their recent past mixed with their interest in hybrid engines has led them to enter into advanced talks with the US-registered Haas F1 team. In principle, they will not be engine manufacturers, but technical partners, with a view to launching an assault with their own engine in 2031. One of the reasons is that they want to understand the needs, the general situation of the category, and take the pulse of the environment they are entering.
The other reason is that Haas has contracts with Ferrari as an engine supplier until that date. Breaking those agreements would be costly, undesirable for show, and would undermine the team's credibility. On the other hand, it would give Toyota ample time to develop theirs.
The Japanese already have a plan in place, and one of its legs is to house the team in their exemplary Cologne facility where they have their famous particle wind tunnel. Haas is based in Banbury, but rents work areas in the Dallara or Maranello factories from Ferrari. Concentrating all functions in an underutilised building would help to unify efforts and speed up processes.
In principle, the plan is not to buy the team, which has had some financial difficulties in recent seasons. It appears that ownership does not want to sell, nor does Toyota want to be responsible for everything. Its role would be similar to that of Honda today. The latter did not work out either as the driving force of a team/engineer team, and yet, after solving their initial problems, they are doing really well just as an engine supplier, just as they did in the era with McLaren in the 80s and 90s.
One of the key players in the talks and deals - yet to be signed - is Ayao Komatsu, the Japanese team principal who succeeded Guenther Steiner. He took over the reins of the team in January this year, and is in charge of putting the deal on track, which is at a very advanced stage.
It's not signed, but the level of interest from Toyota is very high; so much so that they already have a timetable in place. They see how Formula 1 continues to bet on hybrid powertrain, and the other brands involved are taking advantage while they are not. The first to believe in this architecture are not where other competitors in the commercial market such as Mercedes, Honda, and in the near future Ford and the Volkswagen group through Audi.
Toyota is reluctant to fully electrify its cars, and with good reason, when hybrids are the type of car that is gradually devouring all Western markets. Their electric car catalogue is scarce, in China they are backward where this type of motorisation is advancing more than in any other destination, but their hybrids, with more than two decades of experience, continue to be the benchmark.
When Formula 1 adopts new engines in 2026 with green fuel, and half of its power coming from energy recovered during braking, the trend may get a boost in popularity and interest. This is Toyota's reasoning. It is not known when the agreement will be made public; only that it is being worked on and is well advanced.
I hope they move out of BanburryLuscion wrote: ↑11 Oct 2024, 04:47Its official, Toyota Gazoo Racing is going to provide design, technical and manufacturing services for Haas
Haas article with details - https://www.haasf1team.com/news/moneygr ... zoo-racing
Great deal for Haas in this new CapEx. era. Now they have presumably good manufacturing and computational infrastructure without having to spend extra for infrastructure parity like Williams did.Luscion wrote: ↑11 Oct 2024, 04:47Its official, Toyota Gazoo Racing is going to provide design, technical and manufacturing services for Haas
Haas article with details - https://www.haasf1team.com/news/moneygr ... zoo-racing
Hopefully more white and red on Haas from now on
Seems like they plan a long-term partnership that might end up with a PU deal and even more in 5+ years
