Haas is increasingly aligned with Toyota and moving further away from Ferrari, as the American team prepares its new simulator in Banbury and reduces reliance on Maranello.
The Haas Formula 1 team is officially severing ties with Ferrari, with the strengthened partnership with Toyota set to take shape through the new Banbury simulator. Until now, the American squad has relied on Ferrari’s facilities in Maranello, but a new level of independence is about to be achieved. This represents a major growth opportunity for team principal Ayao Komatsu and the entire Haas operation, which is becoming ever more central to Toyota’s projects.
A new era for Haas
As Haas approaches its eleventh season in Formula 1, team principal Ayao Komatsu provides a key update on progress in Banbury, where the new simulator is nearly ready to go live. Up until now, the team has benefited from the Maranello partnership, but by May, the situation could change significantly.
The connection with Toyota is clearly becoming stronger. The Japanese manufacturer is moving closer to the pinnacle of motorsport while managing its resources cautiously. Direct involvement in the future cannot be ruled out. For Ferrari, this shift could create a challenging scenario: without Cadillac (awaiting General Motors power units) and Haas as customer teams, the Maranello squad may find itself without client teams.
Haas’ new simulator: Ayao Komatsu speaks
“Our simulator in Banbury should be ready by May or June,” explained Komatsu. “Toyota has another facility in Epsom, so we are working in parallel between the two locations. Once the Banbury installation is complete, we will be ready to move.”
“This is a very important step forward. We were able to use the Maranello simulator, but it’s not ideal: many of our engineers are based in the UK, and testing days are limited, plus Maranello is in Italy, right? That’s a logistical challenge. In 2026, the simulator will play a key role, and having our own facility will be a huge step forward for the team.”
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