Will the exchange between McLaren and Toyota soon become even more intense? The Formula 1 team recently ended a long-term contract for the use of Toyota’s wind tunnel in Cologne and relocated its program to the factory in Woking. But the collaboration doesn’t end there.
On the contrary: the partnership between the two brands is becoming increasingly closer. This became clear before the Japanese Grand Prix when McLaren announced that young Toyota driver Ryo Hirakawa would be signed as reserve driver for 2024.
As part of the agreement, the Japanese will also take part in McLaren’s simulator program and carry out some testing in the 2021 car. It was quite surprising that Hirakawa was chosen, as he had never been on the radar of the Formula 1 teams before.
The fact that he is now doing so underlines Toyota’s ambitions to forge stronger links with Grand Prix racing. This is also supported by the presence of Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda at McLaren as part of a delegation from the Japanese manufacturer at the Japanese Grand Prix a week ago.
There have even been rumors that McLaren may have Toyota on its radar as a potential future engine partner should it decide to return to Formula 1 at some point.
This is how Hirakawa was signed
When asked about the background to Hirakawa’s commitment, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella explains: “Since we have started a driver development program, there are a lot of people knocking on the door. We are actively looking for talent, but we also have interest from others talent to take part in the program.”
“That’s good because it shows that we are credible from this point of view,” emphasizes Stella. “We are obviously very pleased that Ryo and Toyota wanted to join the team in terms of the driver development program.”
“We took advantage of the opportunity and included him in the pool of reserve drivers. But our interest is not just in the driver himself. We are also interested in an exchange about how we deal with performance, how we deal with driver development. So we want ours Broaden your horizons a little.”
Although there is a possibility that closer relationships will be forged in the next few years, suggestions that Toyota definitely wants to return to Formula 1 appear to be premature at the moment.
Toyota’s F1 return: never say never
Toyota Gazoo Racing advisor Kazuki Nakajima said on the sidelines of the Japanese Grand Prix that the contract with Hirakawa was not a first step towards a comeback in Grand Prix racing. But he left the door open that things could change in the next few years.
“At the moment it’s clearly a no,” he commented on Toyota’s interest in Formula 1. “This deal is really just about a driver, about supporting a driver’s dream. At the moment it really has nothing to do with it.”
“I know, of course, that you can think about it, and there are a lot of rumors. But I can say very clearly that this is not the case and has nothing to do with it,” stressed Nakajima, but added: “For the future, I know you never.”