Komatsu: Toyota Partnership Won't Buy Haas Race Seats
Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu insists that despite a deepening partnership with title sponsor Toyota, F1 race seats will be awarded based on performance, not nationality or sponsorship, to maintain the team's credibility.
As Haas and Toyota deepen their partnership for the 2026 season, Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is drawing a firm line in the sand: while the Japanese giant will have a greater presence, a race seat will not be for sale. Komatsu insists that driver selection will be based solely on performance, a principle he says is fully endorsed by Toyota's chairman, Akio Toyoda, to avoid any perception of a 'pay-driver' arrangement.
Why it matters:
This public declaration establishes the professional credibility of the Haas-Toyota alliance from the outset. By prioritizing merit over marketing, Haas ensures it's seen as a serious F1 competitor, not just a corporate platform for its title sponsor. This stance is crucial for attracting top engineering talent and maintaining the team's integrity within the paddock as it navigates a new era of regulations.
The details:
- Komatsu was unequivocal, stating, "anybody who gets in our race car has to be the best choice in terms of performance."
- He emphasized this philosophy is shared at the highest level of Toyota, noting that even Chairman Akio Toyoda agrees it would become a "joke" to place an uncompetitive driver simply for promotional reasons.
- The partnership includes a "structured" development pathway, evidenced by Toyota's Ryo Hirakawa conducting a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) test with the team in 2025.
- With Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon under contract through 2026, the team has no immediate pressure to make changes, allowing them to focus on the new car and regulations.
What's next:
The immediate priority is the 2026 season. Komatsu downplayed speculation about the 2027 driver market, stressing that a competitive VF-26 car is the best way to put Haas in a strong position for the future. The team's performance in the upcoming season will ultimately dictate its attractiveness to drivers and shape its options for 2027. The first public showcase of this new era will be the launch of the Toyota-branded VF-26 on January 23rd.