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In our “Should’ve been mega” series, Edd Straw revisits the Toyota F1 project – perhaps one of the biggest failures in grand prix history
Toyota’s return to F1 through a technical partnership with Haas will inevitably trigger memories of its failed works team that competed for eight seasons without winning a race, cycling through multiple drivers and squandering millions of dollars. Despite having a massive budget, talented personnel, and top-notch facilities, Toyota F1 never secured a victory between 2002 and 2009, failing to challenge for the title despite three pole positions and 13 podium finishes. The project’s underachievement can be attributed to the team’s underestimation of the challenges in F1, facing difficulties transitioning from success in the World Rally Championship and sportscar racing. Toyota’s struggles intensified with the shift to V10 engines in F1, leading to substantial investments in a V12 project that had to be abandoned, reflecting the team’s frequent setbacks amidst the sport’s political landscape. The team’s commitment was evident through extensive testing in 2001, but ongoing technical challenges eventually resulted in key personnel changes and a continuous struggle to make a significant impact in F1.
