We are talking about Toyota that employing 2 Brazilians -de Matta and Zonta-, 2 Germans - R Schumacher and Glock-, 1 French - Panis-, 1 Finn -Salo-, 1 Brit -McNish- and only 1 Japanese - Kabayashi- during its time as factory team.
well, *you* are I started this tangent with which Japanese driver Toyota will want at Haas (answer likely being Ryo Hirakawa, btw), in this new non-factory technical alliance situation you decided to make it about the history of Toyota's factory driver lineup.
Possibly Toyota could try to place one of their "protegés" at Haas as a trade off for their cooperation. He bettet be good though ...
Maserati replacing the Ferrari brand for next year? Maserati road cars use Ferrari engines, why not make Haas a "Maserati."
Though I really like Gunther, the uptake since his sacking has been fantastic. I hope they continue the way they are.
Are you sure about that ? Maserati used to have V8 Ferrari engines in the past, but the last V6 hybrid is pure Maserati. In fact, in the 50s, and part of the 60s, some Ferrari components like engine blocks or cylinder heads came from the Maserati foundry when ithe Orsi family still owned it.
The Nettuno was a clean sheet design. So not Alfa or Ferrari derived though I'm sure there was some knowledge transfer happening in Modena...
The V6 hybrid Maserati Nettuno is a recent design adopted on most of the range, replacing their V8. It's a lot more advanced than the V6 Alfa Romeo at the end of his life. I remember a time (not so long ago) when Alfa had a V6 in based on a ... GM block , and now their 4-cylinder engines come from FIAT. Hardly a source of inspiration for Maserati !!!
The Nettuno is rather advanced for a street PU, but it is kinda based on the F154. The Nettuno injection & ignition concept shares some idea with modern race PUs
Sorry, I guess old habits and convenience/laziness did get the better of me there. You are correct: 'engine' would have been the better term, both for aesthetics and specificity.
I think that Haas should reach out to Perez, offer him a seat if he can bring his sponsors along. Pay-off Ocon, make him the reserve driver or let him wash the lorries.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has said there has been no conversation around a ‘first refusal’ regarding a potential sale to Toyota, should the team ever go on the market. Toyota struck a new technical partnership with Haas through their Gazoo Racing arm which came into effect at October’s United States Grand Prix, and Komatsu stressed that team owner Gene Haas is “not interested in selling” the team.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/toyota-gradually-moving-towards-full-scale-f1-return/10687952/ Toyota "gradually moving" towards full-scale F1 return In a notable shift in messaging tact, director of the Japanese manufacturer’s sportscar and rallying squad says an F1 return is now on the cards after 2024 deal with Haas But in an interview with Autosport after it was confirmed that Toyota World Endurance Championship driver Ryo Hirakawa has joined Alpine as a reserve driver for 2025 – with the goal of one day racing in F1 – Kaji revealed a change in Toyota’s intent regarding an F1 return of significantly greater depth. “We are, of course, studying the technologies for 2026 and even current technologies,” said Kaji, a friend of Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu. “I feel we’re gradually moving in that direction.” Image Unavailable, Please Login Jarno Trulli, Toyota TF108 Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images But Kaji’s additional comments suggest any greater F1 commitment from Toyota would still be several years away – taking it well into the era where the championship’s simplified V6 turbo hybrid engines will be racing. “We’re not at a stage where we would redirect all our resources there [to a full F1 return],” he said. “What happens after 2030 is still uncertain. We’re working on various new technologies, so whether our vector aligns with F1 remains to be seen.” Kaji also said, “if we had our own team, we could choose which drivers to put in the car”. “In that sense, it would indeed bring us closer to putting drivers in F1,” he added. “But realistically, we have to evaluate how much money and how many staff members would be required to make that happen.
Let's hope Toyota's next foray in F1 will be more successful than the first one. Last time, they spent tons on money for not much result.
They appear patient and hope to evaluate the new PU and regs. Certainly in terms of hybrid development they have no need for F1. WEC is a better lab for durable performance and engine engineering. F1 is a sprint but its the current flavor it appears. I would also they they will observe how Cadillac does overall. Could be rather lucrative for Haas, assuming he wants to sell at all.
