F1 Today | Toyota back in F1, and uncertainty surrounds Domenicali
F1 News
The autumn break in the world of Formula 1 is well into its third week, but that has not stopped news coming from the pinnicale of motorsport. Today, it was announce that Haas will be teamming up with Toyota effective immediately, brining back to F for the first time since 2009. Along with that, rumours have arisen over the contract of the current CEO Stefano Domenicali.
Haas join forces with Toyota Gazoo
In the early hours of the UK morning, it was announced that the Toyota name will return to the premier class of motorsport. Toyota Gazoo Racing will join forces with the Haas F1 team, signing a multi-year deal which makes Toyota the 'Official Techincal Partner' of Haas, coming back into F1 after a 15-year hiatus, with both teams looking to strike success.
The partnership between the two of them will be immediate as they will already start their work together at the next race at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. The aim of the collaboration is to help Haas with the 'development and competitive element' in Formula One, while Toyota Gazoo will 'further develop its own knowledge and skills in a variety of areas through its involvement with the team competing at the leading edge of global motorsport.'
There was talk as to whether this new deal between the two teams would affect the current relationship that Haas has with Ferrari, but team boss Ayao Komatsu said, "I’m naturally pleased that we’ve had the support of the likes of Formula 1 and our long-term partner, Scuderia Ferrari, who we announced our further continuation with earlier in the season, in the formation of this new technical partnership."
Uncertainty surrounding Domenicali's contract
The rumour mill does not stop spinning its stories despite the lack of action on the track. Today, there were rumours of uncertainty over a new contract for Stefano Domenicali, the current CEO of Formula 1. The Italian was expected to renew his contract last summer, but that did not occur, with his deal now set to have one year left.
According to The Daily Mail, a source told them that Greg Maffei, the boss of Liberty Media, the owner of Formula One's commercial rights, "might be doing a bit of a clear-out," also saying that Maffei might want to run F1 himself. Chief legal officer Sacha Woodward Hill left after 30 years of service, and Domenicali might be doing the same.
But who could succeed Domenicali? The British newspaper is already speculating, and names such as Christian Horner, Toto Wolff and Zak Brown have all been touted as the new CEO of F1. It is certainly a rumour and a story to keep an eye on, as the key staff of Formula 1 may be shaken up.
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