Haas Reinforces Alliance with Toyota in Formula 1
In a significant development for Haas, the American Formula 1 team has fortified its alliance with Toyota by welcoming Pierre Genon, a seasoned veteran from Alpine, to oversee their technical collaboration. This partnership, initiated late last season, was formally announced last October after media speculation during the summer. It encompasses various testing and joint training initiatives for pilots, engineers, and mechanics, providing Toyota family pilots with valuable F1 experience and offering technical teams insights into vast data analysis.
Toyota’s commitment is clear—they will not return as a factory team nor produce their own power units. Instead, this partnership allows Haas to leverage Toyota’s resources, including access to one of the world’s premier wind tunnels in Cologne, previously used by McLaren and currently by the Cadillac team for testing purposes.
Pierre Genon, with extensive Formula 1 experience dating back to 2012 with teams like Lotus (later rebranded as Renault and Alpine) and earlier engagements with Peugeot in the LMP1 class and Prodrive’s World Rally Championship program, expressed his enthusiasm about his new role. “I am thrilled to join Haas this week as the head of the Toyota project, with a key responsibility to manage the collaboration between both parties,” Genon shared on LinkedIn.
He further emphasized his readiness for the challenge, which he anticipates will differ greatly from his previous roles. “I look forward to meeting my new teammates and contributing to the team’s next steps in progression through this new project,” Genon added.
Genon also paid tribute to his former colleagues at Alpine, appreciating the shared moments of collaboration and humor. Reflecting on his time at Viry-Châtillon, he noted the welcoming environment and rich heritage, expressing hope that those continuing in high-level motorsports find what they seek.
Amidst rumors of Toyota considering a full-fledged return to Formula 1—a stint that previously lasted from 2002 to 2009 without a single win despite significant investment—the Japanese manufacturer remains focused on its current strategy. After the disappointing end of their last F1 season in 2009, Toyota shifted their focus to other racing championships, opting for partnerships like the one with Haas instead of a direct competition return.
