Years after stepping back from Formula 1, Akio continues to foster aspiring racers' ambitions.
In a surprising turn of events, Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa has been announced as a reserve driver for the McLaren Formula 1 Team. This news has left many questioning the stance of Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, on the matter, as it seems to contradict his previous statements on Formula 1 (F1).
At the Suzuka Circuit, home of the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, Akio Toyoda expressed his shock at a recent announcement regarding Toyota's prospects in F1. However, there are no direct statements or published comments from him regarding Hirakawa's role at McLaren.
Hirakawa, a former Toyota racing school student, has spent his entire driving career with Toyota-affiliated teams. He began kart racing at the age of 13 and went on to win the Japanese Formula 3 Championship and compete in Super Formula.
Akio Toyoda has consistently maintained that F1 is too far removed from the development of production models. In 2009, he made the decision to withdraw from F1, a move he regretted due to its role in cultivating a car culture. Toyota continued racing in the World Endurance Championship, World Rally Championship, and 24 Hours of Nürburgring after withdrawing from F1.
Currently, Yuki Tsunoda is the only Japanese driver competing in F1. Tsunoda is a graduate of Honda's driver development program. Toyota previously competed in F1, with drivers such as Kazuki Nakajima and Kamui Kobayashi aiming for this top category.
During the interview, Akio Toyoda, who presented himself as Morizo, emphasised racing as a platform for developing both cars and people. He also highlighted the importance of motorsport in creating more appealing production cars. Interestingly, Akio Toyota and his team are currently racing with a hydrogen-powered engine for carbon-neutral technology commercialization.
Despite the surprise announcement, Akio Toyoda has consistently stated that he does not think a return to F1 will happen while he is president. This leaves the future of Toyota's involvement in F1 uncertain, even with Hirakawa's signing with McLaren.
[1] Source: Motorsport.com, Autosport.com, and BBC Sport.
In the realm of non-Formula 1 motorsports, Hirakawa's role as a reserve driver for McLaren, despite his rich history with Toyota-affiliated teams, remains unaddressed by Akio Toyoda, considering his public stance on European leagues like the premier-league football and sports such as football, remains a notable point of emphasis for Toyota. The ongoing hydrogen-powered racing initiative by Akio Toyoda and his team demonstrates a focus on carbon-neutral technology commercialization, highlighting Toyota's continued involvement in motorsport, albeit not in the premier-league of Formula 1, for now.
