Toyota’s foray into Formula 1 was one devoted to ambition, affluence, and expectation. The Japanese automotive giant stepped into F1 in the year 2002 with much enthusiasm about making all possible impacts in the sport. However, as much resources and state-of-the-art facilities the firm might have had, it was hard last Toyota to compete with the top teams. After a long time trying to break through into the sport’s elite ranks, Toyota made the decision to exit in 2009. Here’s a look back at why they left and what their future plans might be, especially as they return to the sport in a new way.
The Early Years: High Hopes and Big Investments
Toyota entered Formula 1 with high hopes by investing extremely in a modern factory, top engineers, and competitive cars. Their first car, the Toyota TF102, promised much, but a rude awakening was soon felt by the team – entry in the upper ranks wasn’t going to be easy. Toyota’s Star financial strength brought development to their cars, but those advancements have yet to translate into win after win, with the best show being podium finishes.
Between 2002 and 2005, Toyota was among the so-called “big teams,” significant resources at their disposal, but failing still to make it to fight for a championship. Their best shot was in 2005, finishing 4th in the Constructors’ Championship, and from then on still could not be expected to challenge the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, or Renault.
Difficult: unreliable outcomes and frustrating experiences
Just as time went on, Toyota attempts to match up at competitive levels of the sport with the best teams, how often they are held back by issues of reliability, slow performance from the drivers, and uneven results. The talented drivers, like Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli, could never come close to finding a combination that could regularly put “winners” up their view. Although it was spectacularly brilliant, Toyota could never carry that into long-term results.
By 2009 the team was quite fed up with their inability to make the leap into the upper echelons of F1. And yet, when you had a budget actually bigger than anybody else’s in the sport, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull just weren’t ever going to be matched. All these frustrations, coupled with a global financial downturn, pushed Toyota to withdraw from Formula One at the end of the 2009 season.
Toyota Stats in Formula 1:
| Name | Toyota |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Season Entries | 8 |
| Total Drivers | 9 |
| First Race | 2002 Australian F1 GP |
| Last Race | 2009 Abu Dhabi F1 GP |
| First Pole | 2005 USA F1 GP |
| Last Pole | 2009 Bahrain F1 GP |
| Best Result | 2nd – (5 times) |
| First Podium | 2005 Malaysian F1 GP |
| Last Podium | 2009 Japanese F1 GP |
| First Front Row Lockout | 2009 Bahrain F1 GP |
| Last Front Row Lockout | 2009 Bahrain F1 GP |
| Engines used by Toyota | Toyota (2002-2009) |
| Grand Prix Entries | 140 |
| Grand Prix Starts | 139 |
| Total Points | 278.5 |
| Avg. Points per GP | 1.99 |
| Grand Prix Wins | 0 |
| Pole Positions | 3 (2.1%) |
| Front Row Lockouts | 1 (0.7%) |
| GP Podiums | 13 (9.3%) |
| GP Fastest Laps | 3 (2.1%) |
| GP Retirements | 82 |
| GP DNF’s | 72 |
| Total GP Laps | 14,363 |
The Exit: Changes in Priorities and Economic Pressure
November 2009, announcement of withdrawal from Formula 1 was economic downturns brought about by these factory professionals that nailed the game hard within the automotive industry. In terms of sales volumes worldwide, this corporation would not be the same as before, and the high expenses incurred in competing at F1 levels are evidence that such investment must not continue. To be precise, Toyota made a long-term commitment to the sport; however, divesting itself from F1 became another necessary step in reallocating jobs in more profitable areas like hybrid technologies and consumer vehicle development.
And just like that, it came to shock a lot of people within the F1 world because they were one of the very well-funded teams in the sport; the departure of such stalwart leaves fans disappointed, believing much of Toyota’s true potential lay ahead.
The Road Ahead: Toyota’s Return to Motorsport
The company withdrew from Formula 1 but continued with motorsport and made some success in other categories, including endurance racing, where they won some 24 Hours of Le Mans titles and further developed hybrid technology through this Toyota TS050 Hybrid race car.
Indeed, with the increasing emphasis on hybrid powertrains and sustainability in F1, these two fields have been proven to be Toyota’s strength and may lead the company to think about making a return to F1 again. With the growing shift towards greener technologies in motorsport, F1 is a perfect destination for Toyota, given that they could rely on their hybrid and sustainable technology experiences in building their brand and racing legacy.
Return of Toyota to F1: Branding on Haas Cars
Toyota will not be back to Formula 1 as a full-fledged manufacturer team or engine supplier, but in 2024, they will make a great return into the sport by partnering with the Haas F1 Team. Beginning with the 2024 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, Toyota branding on the Haas F1 cars will be publicity to the return of the brand to Formula 1.
Haas will continue to use Ferrari power units, having extended their contract with Ferrari until 2028, despite Toyota’s presence on Haas cars. The partnership allows Toyota to re-enter F1 by associating itself with a competitive team, leveraging its brand recognition within a sport in which it once competed at the highest levels.
Concerning Future Contributions of Toyota Towards F1
Even though Toyota has not yet returned as a full-fledged engine supplier or manufacturer team, the company’s involvement with Haas indicates that it would be keeping a close eye on the future of Formula 1 or the 2026 regulations that focus on sustainability and hybrid powertrains, which happens to play into Toyota’s wheelhouse, making it possible that the company will play an even larger role in the sport at some point in the future, either through a larger partnership or as an engine supplier.
Toyota would have used its vast experience in motorsport and hybrid powertrains to very good effect should it choose, like other top-tier snowsports companies, to engage with Formula 1 again.
Toyota Drivers Stats
| Driver | GP | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Pod | Pole | Laps | FL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy Jarno Trulli | 90 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 4754 | 1 | 129.5 |
| Germany Ralf Schumacher | 53 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2854 | 1 | 70 |
| France Olivier Panis | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1596 | 0 | 12 |
| Germany Timo Glock | 32 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1757 | 1 | 49 |
| Brazil Cristiano da Matta | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1484 | 0 | 13 |
| Finland Mika Salo | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 924 | 0 | 2 |
| United Kingdom Allan McNish | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 638 | 0 | 0 |
| Brazil Ricardo Zonta | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan Kamui Kobayashi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 0 | 3 |
Conclusion
There was Toyota at the end of an ambitious chapter in its motorsports history, having quit Formula 1 at the end of 2009. There was no win after investing so much money, leaving future prospects hopeful. Success in endurance racing and hybrid technology locomotion kept them busy in motorsport. This new partnership, which sees Toyota branding return to the world of Formula 1 in 2024, is said to be an indication that the company might be gearing up for something bigger in the future. Toyota may signal possible future developments in Formula 1, particularly with this new progressive partnership. This is not the full return to engine supplying and factory team status, but Toyota’s involvement with Haas is a new way forward for the sport’s future and sustainable technologies.
