Peter Windsor explains why Toyota and Haas deal wouldn’t have happened with Guenther Steiner

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Haas has struck a deal with Japanese car maker Toyota to bring them back to Formula 1 after a 15-year absence.

Despite being the smallest team on the grid this season, Haas has done an impressive job of punching above its weight to sit P7 in the Constructors’ Championship within a shot of Visa CashApp RB.

However, the team knows that it must evolve to continue its upward trajectory, which is why they have brought in Toyota Gazoo Racing as a partner alongside its existing technical partnership with Ferrari and Dallara.

Toyota will be giving Haas the full use of its impressive facility in Cologne, Germany, which is also used by the Japanese manufacturer’s World Endurance Championship team.

Team principal Ayao Komatsu was one of the main proponents of the deal, after inviting Toyota’s general manager for motorsport, Masaya Kaji, to the Haas garage during the British GP weekend.

Peter Windsor believes such a deal would not have gone ahead with Guenther Steiner at the helm, due to one specific reason when discussing it on his YouTube.

Peter Windsor believes Guenther Steiner would be ‘hand-fisted’ with Toyota

Steiner was ousted from Haas off the back of a poor finish to their 2023 season in December this year, with Komatsu taking over and immediately making an impression with their points finishes.

Windsor believes their technical partnership with Toyota will likely start small but could have the potential to see greater involvement in their cars in the future.

“I don’t think this would’ve happened if Guenther Steiner was still there. It’s a completely new Haas/Ferrari setup and they’ve got this logical, hardworking, team principal in Ayao Komatsu who obviously reached out to Toyota in Japan and there was a bond that worked well,” said Windsor.

“He’s not just running the team as a team principal, he’s actually going out there and putting deals together.

“A lot of teams would be hand-fisted with Toyota and say ‘We want an engine’ but he’s going in there and saying ‘Let’s just start with personnel interchange, young driver programme, and behind the scenes take over Dallara.'”

Haas future really ‘exciting’ according to Nico Hulkenberg

The future of Haas was somewhat uncertain when rumours emerged that team owner Gene Haas was looking to sell earlier in the season.

The American team has since undergone a significant recruitment drive that should help them become a regular competitor at the front, having increased its 300-person headcount by 10 per cent and greenlit further developments in the UK.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver and Ferrari gem Oliver Bearman? Everything to know

Outgoing driver Nico Hulkenberg said Haas’ future is ‘exciting’ and predicts they will become a ‘serious competitor’ in years to come.

Their current driver lineup will be replaced with an all-new one in 2025, with Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen being replaced by Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon.