Haas: Toyota influence won’t trump ‘performance’ in driver picks

The alliance between Haas and Toyota Gazoo Racing is entering a high-voltage new phase for 2026, but team principal Ayao Komatsu is making one thing crystal clear: the Haas cockpit is not for sale to the highest bidder- even if that bidder is their partner and title sponsor.

As Toyota ramps up its involvement, transitioning from a technical partner to the team's headline act, the Japanese giant is understandably keen to use the platform to propel its home-grown talent onto the global stage.

Haas already dipped its toes into Toyota-backed driver involvement in 2025, running its first-ever TPC programme with factory Toyota driver Ryo Hirakawa at the wheel. That groundwork now feeds into a more ambitious plan.

Toyota’s influence, Haas’ rules

Komatsu confirmed the development pathway will become “a bit more structured”, with Toyota’s presence designed to bring a “gradual step-by-step improvement” – not just for drivers, but for people across both organisations.

The crossover taps into Toyota Gazoo Racing’s deep experience as an endurance racing powerhouse, using Haas as a live Formula 1 laboratory.

And yes, Toyota will want input on driver choices.

Asked directly whether the Japanese manufacturer has discussed placing one of its drivers in a Haas race seat in the future, Komatsu didn’t dodge the question.

“Yeah, of course. You know, their goal – one of many goals they have, is to, like we said with developing people, one of them is drivers,” he explained in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.

“But [the] main thing is, you know, anybody who gets in our race car has to be the best choice in terms of performance.”

That principle, Komatsu stressed, is shared all the way to the very top of Toyota’s hierarchy.

“We all agree on that one, you know, even from Akio-san [Akio Toyoda, Toyota chairman], even though he wanted, let’s say, a Japanese driver from his academy, it becomes a joke if we’re putting that driver when he’s not good enough, right?

“Then people will say, ‘Oh, Toyota’s just buying a seat with money.’ That’s not what Akio-san is doing. That’s not what we’re doing. We always pick drivers due to performance.”

The message is blunt: this is not a pay-seat arrangement dressed up as a partnership.

Eyes on 2026, Not Driver Speculation

With Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon both under contract through the end of 2026, Haas isn’t under immediate pressure to reshuffle its line-up.

But an open driver market looms, and Toyota-backed names — including Yuki Tsunoda — are already being linked to future opportunities.

Komatsu, however, shut down any short-term speculation.

“I can’t comment on his future, but obviously, he’s not our driver,” he said, referencing Tsunoda.

“But [for] ’27, I think we have to focus on ’26 with our drivers and then, with brand new regulations, I think most of the drivers knew that obviously, as they want to see how the ’26 [season] pans out, and they wanted to pick a better team for ’27, that’s why the driver market is going to be so open for ’27.

“So, to put ourselves in a better position, our best position, [the] important thing is we’ve got to have a competitive ’26 season. That’s our focus.”

Read also:

• Ocon: Haas’ expanded partnership with Toyota is ‘fantastic’ for 2026

In other words, Haas isn’t building a driver programme for optics or nationality points. It’s building one to win credibility – and results.

The first public glimpse of that next chapter comes soon, with the VF-26 set to be unveiled on January 23rd, ahead of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

When it does, it will carry Toyota’s name – but Komatsu’s philosophy will be stamped all over it.

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