Kazuki Nakajima, advisor to Toyota Gazoo Racing, emphasizes that the Japanese manufacturer is currently not planning a return to Formula 1. Rumors arose when Ryo Hirakawa was announced as McLaren’s replacement driver. The Japanese was actively supported by Nakajima and Toyota.
The situation was further inflamed on Saturday when Toyota Motor Corporation CEO Akio Toyoda – also known in the scene under the pseudonym “Morizo” due to his own racing activities – showed up at McLaren’s hospitality area. He spoke to local media and was also interviewed along with Hirakawa.
Is the Hirakawa deal perhaps an indication that McLaren could lure Toyota into Formula 1 as a new manufacturer as part of the new engine regulations for 2026? Former team boss Martin Whitmarsh spoke to Toyota in the run-up to the introduction of the hybrid regulations in 2014 before concluding the – in retrospect fatal – deal with Honda.
Nakajima says no. “For now it’s a clear no,” he answers when asked about Toyota’s interest in Formula 1. “This deal is really just about a driver, about supporting a driver’s dream.”
“At the moment one really has nothing to do with the other. I know, of course you can think about it and there are a lot of rumors. But I can say very clearly, that’s not the case, that has nothing to do with it.”
Focus on WEC and WRC – for now
However, the former Williams driver leaves the door open by suggesting that the decision only applies “for the moment”.
Toyota has been involved in the World Endurance Championship since 2012 and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times in a row between 2018 and 2022. In 2023, a controversial change to the Balance of Performance outside the regulations prevented a sixth consecutive victory. Toyota is also involved in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
“That’s our focus,” says Nakajima-san, 2018/19 endurance world champion and two-time Le Mans winner. “For us, both categories are a good testing ground to get good feedback for our road cars. Toyota’s philosophy is to develop better and better road cars based on motorsport. We are happy with what we are doing.”
Then why the deal with Hirakawa? “Morizo-san’s intention is not to block the drivers’ path, because Toyota is not represented in Formula 1. So this is something completely different.”
“Our philosophy at Toyota Racing, which comes from Morizo-san, is a driver-centric approach. He wants to give all drivers the opportunity to improve and develop. And of course Formula 1 is the top of the pyramid, a place that every driver strives for.”
“So our job is to help Ryo settle in at McLaren and find as many opportunities as possible as a third driver, be it in simulator sessions, testing or whatever we can find. We are here to provide that to fundamentally support activities.”
What comes into play here, however, is that at 29, Hirakawa is actually no longer at an age at which one can enter Formula 1. Nakajima plays this down: “Sometimes age isn’t everything in motorsport. As you can see, Fernando is [Alonso] still at the forefront. That’s why I think it’s not that important for Ryo. Ten years ago maybe it just wasn’t the right time for him.”
Why so many substitute drivers?
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella added: “When a driver like Ryo is involved, then that is a very recognizable Toyota representative. That means that the entire company supports him and is involved in some way, as we saw today.”
“We were very pleased to see so many senior representatives from Toyota here at the circuit. So I would say it’s not about the driver, but that it comes from there. We’re happy that Toyota chose McLaren has to promote his driver.”
Hirakawa is already the fourth reserve driver in the team. Why this? “Well, these days with 24 races and drivers racing in other categories, the concept of reserve driver has to be very broad. For us that is the reason why we talk about a whole pool of reserve drivers,” replies Stella.
“We have Mick Schumacher, Stoffel [Vandoorne] and [Felipe] Drugovich on the team and wanted someone to add to that pool. We have also started a driver development program for which some drivers have contacted us.”
“We are actively looking for talent, but we also have other talent who want to take part in the program. With Ryo we want to broaden our horizons. This shows that we are credible in this regard.”