Haas is celebrating the Suzuka round of the Formula 1 calendar with a special livery dedicated to Godzilla, thanks to a new partnership with Toho. The “King of the Monsters” will roar on track with the VF-26. Following a surprising start to the 2026 season, the American team is eager to continue impressing and remain the top team in the midfield battle.
Suzuka will be a particularly special event for Haas. Not only does it represent a home race for Team Principal Ayao Komatsu and the new main sponsor Toyota, but it also marks the debut of a collaboration with Toho, the home of Godzilla. This agreement represents the first partnership in the team’s history with an entertainment intellectual property.
Toho is the famous Japanese production company behind the iconic Godzilla film series, featuring the enormous prehistoric reptile known as the King of the Monsters. In the lore of the films, Godzilla is awakened by nuclear tests in the Pacific, ending his long hibernation at the bottom of the ocean. Since then, depending on the movie, Godzilla has alternated between being a threat to humanity and an unexpected ally.
During a live event in Tokyo, drivers Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, along with Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, revealed the new livery that pays tribute to the legendary monster. The design incorporates elements of the regular Haas championship livery while adding Godzilla and graphic details inspired by classic manga art styles.
The start of the 2026 season has so far been promising for Haas. The American team has been one of the early surprises of the championship, consistently establishing itself as the leading force in the midfield thanks to an excellent chassis. This advantage is particularly noticeable during race conditions, where long-distance tire management plays a decisive role, more so than in qualifying, where the team still lacks a little in pure power and hybrid power unit management.
Oliver Bearman finished seventh in the season-opening race in Australia, followed by a strong fifth-place result in the long-distance Chinese Grand Prix. These performances allowed him to score valuable points for the team, putting Haas even ahead of Red Bull in the standings at that stage, although the Milton Keynes-based squad has been struggling with several reliability issues at the start of the season.
Moreover, in terms of pure race pace, Bearman was able to keep Max Verstappen behind him for several laps in the most recent race, maintaining a highly competitive rhythm. This further confirms that the VF-26 chassis is one of the most significant strengths in the Haas package.
This weekend is also special because 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Japanese Grand Prix, held near Mount Fuji in 1976. That historic race became legendary for concluding the championship duel between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, a story later dramatized in Ron Howard’s film “Rush,” with the British driver securing the world title for McLaren.
Haas arrives at Suzuka with more than just a promotional gimmick; they arrive with a car that is punching well above its weight class. By blending the cultural icon of Godzilla with a chassis that has already intimidated the likes of Red Bull, the American team is perfectly positioned for a historic weekend on Toyota’s home turf. Based on the content of Bearman’s recent defensive masterclasses, the “King of the Monsters” might find a very fitting home on the sidepods of the VF-26.
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