Haas VF-26: Toyota brings the most important innovations

The first renderings of the new Haas VF-26 provide some insights into the latest single-seater created by the group coordinated by technical director Andrea De Zordo. What stands out, however, is above all the livery, with strong references to Toyota, whose name the team has now also integrated. Thanks to the Japanese giant, the Italian-American team will see its production capacity grow in 2026, awaiting the delivery of the new simulator in the coming months. Insights from the renderings The computerized images of the VF-26 provide some technical previews to be taken with a pinch of salt. In this phase the teams usually hide and in the past there have been cases of misdirection and approximate, if not even artfully modified, renderings. Furthermore, the 2026 single-seaters will undergo rapid aerodynamic evolution, which is why the cars that will take to the track in tests could be very different from those shown at launch. Having made the necessary assumptions, the renderings show a push-rod scheme for the front suspension. It will be interesting to see whether this is a preview from Ferrari or whether Haas has chosen to adapt the 2024 scheme, which would represent a compromise solution given the reduction in track width compared to previous regulations. Last year, the team deliberately abandoned the pull-rod solution, preferring to have more time to develop the aerodynamics without having to first take a step back to take a different path. The other Cavallino customer team, however, Cadillac, has already run with the 2026 single-seater, revealing a tie rod front suspension. It is worth remembering, however, that the new General Motors team purchases only the power unit and gearbox gears from Maranello, producing the suspensions independently. Photo Haas F1 Team At the rear, the renderings of the VF-26 show a push-rod mechanism which, if confirmed by the real car, would also mark a change in architecture for Ferrari, which in 2025 used the tie rod scheme. The first images of the new cars, however, once again suggest a dualism between the two schemes on both axles. As always, there is no clear superiority of one choice over the other, but it depends on the compromise between mechanical behavior and aerodynamic influence, as well as on the integration with the chassis. The partnership with Toyota is growing While waiting for the photographs from the track to allow us to make more reliable considerations, the biggest innovations of the Haas 2026 come from the strengthening of the collaboration with Toyota. The Italian-American team will be able to count on new production departments in the Toyota Gazoo Racing factories in Cologne, internalizing the manufacturing of some components. “Even before this partnership, some key components were made by Dallara,” explained Team Principal Komatsu last December. “We have a lot of other parts made by different external suppliers, so we’re relocating some of them. In a way, we’re treating it more like it’s an extension of the internal design department. We need to understand some components better to have internal capabilities.” Photo Haas F1 Team The centralization of some production processes will speed up the delivery time of updates, one of the most important indicators in Formula 1. Furthermore, everything will optimize expenses, saving on the budget with the possibility of reinvesting resources. The collaboration, however, will not compromise the one with the Prancing Horse: “It’s not that Toyota is trying to take over where Ferrari is working with us. There are areas in the regulations where Ferrari can help us, but in others it can’t, because it is still an opponent and they are the ones in which we will work together with Toyota. There is no problem and I have been transparent with Ferrari about it.” The new simulator The other big change for Haas is the strengthening of preparation for race weekends and training of personnel for the track. The goal for 2026 is to leverage Toyota’s support to better structure TPC tests with older cars, moving from 14 to 20 days. However, the jewel in the crown of the partnership is the simulator under development. The team currently uses the former Ferrari structure in Maranello, without however enjoying absolute availability at all times and with the difficulty of having to coordinate with the UK headquarters, where the majority of the engineering departments are located. Photo Haas F1 Team There is therefore great anticipation for the delivery of the new Banbury simulator, scheduled for mid-season. Together with Haas, Toyota has developed a replica of its existing unit at Epsom, on which correlation work is already underway with virtual models of the VF-26, so that the new simulator can be used as soon as it is ready. This is a big step forward for the team, even more so considering that with the 2026 regulations, virtual preparation will be even more important to optimize energy management strategies. Overall, there is great curiosity to see the real forms of the VF-26, but even more there is to evaluate the impact of the growing collaboration with Toyota.