In August 2025, the Haas Formula 1 team will carry out a special two-day test at the legendary Fuji Speedway circuit in Japan, thanks to its recently established technical partnership with Toyota. This initiative will take place during the summer break, which begins after the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix—while most teams pause operations, Haas has opted for a more proactive approach. The American outfit will be in action on August 6 and 7, using previous-generation F1 cars and featuring fresh driver talent.
For this unique test, the team will run the 2023-spec Haas VF-23 chassis, with Japanese drivers Ryo Hirakawa and Sho Tsuboi behind the wheel. Sho Tsuboi will be making his Formula 1 debut during this session, while 31-year-old Ryo Hirakawa already has F1 experience under his belt, having participated in Free Practice 1 (FP1) sessions in Bahrain and Spain earlier this season using the 2025 Haas VF-25. Hirakawa also completed testing duties with the VF-23 at Silverstone back in April.
Ryo Hirakawa is currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing, while Sho Tsuboi is racing in Japan under the same banner and is the reigning champion in both Super Formula and Super GT—two of the country’s most prestigious motorsport series.
The Haas-Toyota partnership: a strategic alliance
The collaboration between Haas and Toyota was officially announced at the end of the 2024 season. One of the immediate benefits of this alliance has been the launch of Haas’s first-ever private testing program—something many other teams have utilized in recent years through the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) regulations. Due to financial limitations, Haas had not been able to take advantage of these regulations until this year.
Toyota, seeking to develop its pool of drivers, engineers, and mechanics, saw Haas as an ideal partner. The Japanese manufacturer decided to support Haas in organizing TPC test sessions using the 2023-specification VF-23 chassis. These sessions are now key to Toyota’s broader effort to enhance its motorsport development programs.
This new testing initiative began earlier in 2025, when Ritomo Miyata made his Formula 1 testing debut with Haas at Jerez in January. Veteran driver Kamui Kobayashi also took part in a test session at Circuit Paul Ricard earlier this summer.
Now, the team is preparing for an even more ambitious undertaking: a two-day test at the Fuji Speedway, a circuit owned by Toyota. On the first day, Ryo Hirakawa will take the wheel. On the second day, Sho Tsuboi will step into a Formula 1 car for the very first time, marking a significant milestone in his racing career.
Ayao Komatsu shares his thoughts on the Fuji test
Ayao Komatsu, Haas’s team principal, expressed his excitement about the upcoming test session at Fuji Speedway, especially given that this is Haas’s first season running TPC tests.
“Of course, I’m excited that we’re able to conduct two days of testing at Fuji Speedway during our first year with the TPC program,” said Komatsu. “It’s a truly special moment for us to run our car at Toyota’s home circuit, where last October we also officially announced our partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing.”
He continued: “It’s equally rewarding to see Sho Tsuboi make his Formula 1 debut, especially after his many achievements in Japanese motorsport. And as for Ryo, we already know how talented he is, and we’re looking forward to receiving further technical feedback from him on our testing program.”
Komatsu also highlighted the presence of fans at the circuit during the test: “It’s fantastic that fans will be able to attend the test. We know how passionate Japanese fans are about Formula 1, so it’s great to be racing on Japanese soil for the second time this year following the Japanese Grand Prix in April.”
Toyota’s commitment to talent development: Kaji’s perspective
Masaya Kaji, Director of Toyota Gazoo Racing Global Motorsport, also shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming test and emphasized Toyota’s broader goals in terms of human resource development within motorsport.
“We established this technical partnership to optimize the three fundamental pillars of automotive production: people, pipeline, and product. This test falls within our commitment to the ‘people’ pillar, which focuses on developing human resources,” Kaji explained.
He added: “I am confident that Sho, with his experience as a Super Formula Series champion, will not only continue to improve his own skills but also provide valuable motivation for the other drivers in the Toyota Gazoo Racing program.”
Kaji also noted that the test will be attended by engineers and mechanics from Toyota Motor Corporation, who will gain invaluable hands-on experience: “Being directly exposed to the technologies and capabilities required at the highest level of motorsport will be a key opportunity in their professional development.”
He concluded: “Together with the Haas team, we aim to leverage these challenges not only to foster the growth of each individual driver, engineer, and mechanic, but also to enhance their overall technical skills. We firmly believe that the lessons learned from this program will be passed down to the next generation, ultimately contributing to the advancement of motorsport competition and technology.”
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