Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Haas Says Toyota Tie-Up Won’t Dictate Driver Lineup

Existing contracts for Oliver Bearman plus Esteban Ocon through 2026 keep changes off the table for now.

Overview

  • Team boss Ayao Komatsu reiterated that race seats will be awarded purely on performance, rejecting any pay-seat perception.
  • Toyota will become title sponsor in 2026 and will have input on a structured driver-development pathway tied to the partnership.
  • Komatsu said Toyota’s leadership agrees with the performance-first stance, citing alignment with chairman Akio Toyoda.
  • He denied any takeover intent, describing the deeper collaboration as focused on training personnel and technical cooperation.
  • The VF-26 is scheduled for a January 23 reveal ahead of Barcelona pre-season testing, with the car set to carry Toyota’s name.