Toyota secured key clause in Haas deal putting Bearman and Ocon under instant pressure

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Toyota returned to Formula 1 after 15 years by securing a technical partnership with Haas, which also puts Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon under immediate pressure.

The global financial crisis saw Toyota pull the plug on its Formula 1 team in 2009 after losing millions upon millions. But Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu went out of his way to secure a partnership with Toyota in October and bring the world’s largest car company back into F1.

Haas now run with Toyota branding on their cars, and also benefit from the Japanese giant’s technical and commercial expertise, knowledge and resources. But the deal also gave Toyota one clause that will put Bearman and Ocon under immediate pressure when they join Haas.

Toyota can veto Haas’ future driver moves after securing a technical partnership

The American-owned squad will unleash a new driver line-up for the 2025 season after Haas signed Bearman and Ocon to replace Nico Hulkenberg plus Kevin Magnussen. Both agreed to multi-year contracts as the Briton graduates to F1 and the Frenchman joins from Alpine.

But for how long Ferrari Driver Academy prospect Bearman and one-time Grand Prix winner Ocon stay at Haas could be up in the air following the team’s partnership with Toyota. That’s because Formu1a.uno reports that Toyota also secured a veto on Haas’ future driver moves.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari and Toyota partnerships

Toyota can block Haas from freely making any future moves in the Formula 1 driver market, should Bearman and/or Ocon lose their seat. The automotive giant is also hopeful of seeing a Toyota-backed Japanese driver join the Formula 1 grid beside Honda-backed Yuki Tsunoda.

Tsunoda will continue with Visa Cash App RB in 2025 after the Faenza natives triggered their option on the 24-year-old’s contract. He has enjoyed backing from Honda since 2016, which preceded a move to Europe and later becoming Japan’s only F1 pilot since Kamui Kobayashi.

Formula 2 talent Ritomo Miyata is Toyota’s top-ranked single-seater driver

Chairman Akio Toyoda believes it was ‘inhibiting’ for Toyota to lack a presence in F1 as it put drivers off discussing their plans for Formula 1 with him. The 68-year-old was behind Toyota withdrawing from F1 in 2009 amid the financial crisis but knows it is the aim for most racers.

Now having the tie-up with Haas gives Toyota a direct connection to a Formula 1 team and a chance to give young Japanese drivers outings in modern F1 machinery. As well as providing technical support, Toyota will help Haas run a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) F1 programme.

The driver most likely to benefit from Haas and Toyota’s tie-up is Formula 2 prospect Ritomo Miyata. Toyota has backed the 25-year-old since 2016 and seen the Kanagawa native secure Japanese F4, Super Formula Lights, Super GT and Super Formula titles and contend in WEC.