Haas’ new partnership with Toyota that begins in Austin is a “clear sign” that the American team is “for sale”, says Ralf Schumacher. Haas and Toyota announced on Friday that Toyota Gazoo Racing, the Japanese company’s motorsport competition arm, would become Haas’ official technical partner in a multi-year deal. The deal effectively brings Toyota back to the F1 grid from the next race of 2024, the United States Grand Prix, with Toyota Gazoo president Tomoya Takahashi describing it as “competing” alongside Haas. While the F1 team will benefit from Toyota’s resources in the form of design, technical, and manufacturing services, including using their simulator expertise and wind tunnel, Haas will give Toyota Gazoo access to their F1 team with drivers, engineers and mechanics participating in Haas’ TPC [testing of a previous car] outings. But while the new partnership will have no impact on Haas’ current relationship with Ferrari, who supply the American team with engines and other parts for the car, it is expected to grow in the coming years at Toyota Gazoo personnel will be involved in aerodynamics development. Toyota though, were adamant there’s no background talk about becoming an engine supplier or even running a team, which they […]
Daniel Ricciardo may be preparing for the final race of his F1 career on Sunday after another nightmare performance in qualifying. If the rumours weren’t already loud enough, it looks like there’s nothing left that will save Daniel Ricciardo’s career after another disastrous qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix. The promising signs for a good weekend for Ricciardo on the first day of practice, which saw him finished seventh in FP1 and sixth in FP2 evaporated on Saturday, going 17th fastest in FP3 before yet another Q1 exit from qualifying. The Aussie qualified 16th for Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix in yet another disappointing performance. Only this one came at the worst possible time with the whispers of him being replaced by Liam Lawson taking over the grid this weekend. Red Bull is reportedly set to drop the axe on Ricciardo after the weekend with a four-week break between Singapore and the United States Grand Prix in Austin. “We have an idea, but we have to wait until Singapore,” Red Bull supremo Helmut Marko told Viaplay. “It is still September, but from Singapore, we will have a precise idea. It will be quite clear as to what will happen with […]
