You are not confusing with Honda ? They gave up at the end of 2008, and sold the team for peanuts. Ross Brawn took it over and won the title with Button !!!
Toyota’s first real Haas F1 contribution explained https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/toyota-haas-deal-private-test-jerez-miyata/ Haas will enjoy Toyota’s first tangible contribution to its Formula 1 team this week with its first-ever private testing programme at Jerez. The presence of Toyota junior Ritomo Miyata alongside Haas 2025 drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman at the test is an obvious connection between the Japanese manufacturer and Haas. And the test itself would not be happening at all without Toyota’s involvement – marking this the first significant benefit to Haas beyond some stickers on cars. When Haas announced its tie-up with Toyota Gazoo Racing last year, it marked the first official and direct involvement Toyota’s had in F1 since shutting down its works team at the end of 2009. TGR branding appeared on the Haas F1 cars from the United States Grand Prix weekend onwards, and Haas ran Toyota’s sportscar driver Ryo Hirakawa in last year’s post-season Abu Dhabi test. By that point, the Haas and TGR announcement was two months old. But as Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu made clear that weekend, any gains were a long way off – and if anything, the arrangement was detracting from Haas’s output because it was taking time and effort to get it going. Asked if the TGR deal had assisted with Haas’s strong end to 2024, Komatsu replied: “How quickly do you think those things are going to have an impact? You’re announcing it, you think the next day parts are going to be on the car? No, no. “That kind of collaboration takes time. At the moment [December 2024], we are in the very early stages of actually setting up the project, et cetera. “So, it's actually a dip, because we haven't actually increased our number of people, but we have to set up the project. People are working more. “It has nowhere near got to the stage where we can feel any benefit. In fact, we are even more stretched at this minute. “It’s a dip stage, which is normal, we just need to get out of that and get onto the stage where we can stabilise it, but that's going to take several months. “To feel the effect on the track, it's going to take a year at least.”
The Haas-Toyota collaboration is like a toe in the water. Toyota, bringing finance and technical support will be able to observe F1 from the inside, and decide a later date if they want to increase their involvement without comprimising themselves. They will have access to Haas track data, apart from studying closely the Ferrari engine. In the meantime, they will also familiarise with the latest chassis technology, examining the Dallara, and draw conclusion from it. I wouldn't be surprised if all these information was taken to Japan, where, they could have a design team working secretely. In a few years time, if the results look promising, the financial climate stable, and the stars aligned, TGR could even convince the board to make an offert to Gene Haas to take control of his outfit and turn it into a Toyota F1 factory team. If it never goes that far, they will not disgrace themselves from a pull-out like they did last time.
They can use partnership with Haas this time rather than owning outright. There is zero advantage. The question is the payoff if they ever make a motor for F1. They have a good situation in WEC without the utter idiocy of political F1 to drive in circles in 24 sprint races. They can do both and enable a stronger Haas and have brand recognition as well without owning anything. Haas need the wind tunnel and the technical expertise offered by Toyota. They can help assess the integration of the Ferrari PU in the chassis, help with gearbox integration and aero improvements as well. There is alot they can do to make Haas stronger. This will be an interesting evolution to watch.
Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon will head to the Jerez circuit in southern Spain this week, with the new Haas team mates taking part in a Testing of Previous Cars session. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/new-haas-team-mates-bearman-and-ocon-set-for-f1-test-runs-this-week-as-2025.25HLNRGv1jEH6j4YMk6SAB
Ferrari is changing its front suspension concept with its 2025 car as part of a raft of changes it hopes will deliver a first Formula 1 world championship since 2008, although technical partner Haas has decided against taking the latest specification
Magnussen to test for Haas in 2025 F1 role Kevin Magnussen will retain an active role with the Haas Formula 1 team this year, despite losing his race seat at the end of 2024
Haas hits cost cap: Gene Haas no longer needs to bankroll team The milestone reflects the team’s steady commercial growth over the years. Prize money from last year’s championship performance, coupled with increased sponsorship revenue, has enabled Haas to compete at the budget cap – a critical benchmark for any F1 team aspiring to be competitive in the current era. “This year is the first time that as a company, Gene doesn’t have to put his own money in,” Komatsu told the media on Monday.
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/01/31/ayao-komatsu-haas-f1-team-in-need-of-an-expansion-to-avoid-a-staff-collapse/ Haas boss Ayao Komatsu has asserted that the team must expand its existing workforce to avoid members enduring a “breakdown” during the Formula 1 season. The American outfit finished seventh in the Constructors’ Standings last season in Komatsu’s debut season as team boss – its best championship result since 2018. The result is even more impressive when it is appreciated that Haas beat more established rivals with a smaller working contingent, despite making recent additions. In comparison, Williams, which finished below Haas in last season’s championship, now boasts 1000 team members through the rebuild that James Vowles is leading. Komatsu has expressed that he takes pride in the collective work ethic at Haas, but he warned that demanding such effort isn’t “sustainable” over a 24-round calendar. “I don’t think so, because look at the numbers – 330 people, it’s nowhere,” Komatsu told Racer.com. “What is amazing about this team is we’re asking a lot from everyone – people are doing one or two or three jobs. “The TPC [in Jerez earlier this month], it was so smooth, no issues, everything on time, like we’ve been doing it for five years. “But that’s only because people go the extra mile, being proactive and thinking ahead. “But I feel bad, I can’t rely on that as a baseline, that’s not sustainable. We cannot drive people to a breakdown. “We have to increase the resource capability so we can achieve those things without feeling like you’re going to collapse.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team is delighted to announce that CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM), a global leader in network connectivity, has become the Official Connectivity Partner of the only American team competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The multi-year agreement will see CommScope provide critical race day network operations to meet the performance demands of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, including trackside, garage, and pit wall connectivity. CommScope also will deliver a seamless, high-speed Wi-Fi® experience for VIP guests of the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team hospitality suite within the paddock and provide network solutions to support the team’s factory operations around the world. Headquartered in the same state as MoneyGram Haas F1 Team in North Carolina, CommScope’s custom technology suite leverages its best-in-class solutions proven in the world’s most advanced broadband, enterprise and wireless networks. The suite features broadband fiber, SYSTIMAX® fiber and copper connectivity platforms, as well as RUCKUS® enterprise-grade wireless access solutions.
So after today's qualification performance, it seems everybody is lost for words. Finally Haas has managed to be slower than Sauber (Williams is already far away).
Ollie needs for the team to get his car sorted tonight, ‘cause he really needs to put in a good drive tomorrow.
Let's see if they can climb up from that position during the season. Inevitably, someone has to be last anyway !
