Toyota's Presence in the F1 World
• I imagine it’s difficult for a Japanese auto maker to squeeze into an F1 world dominated by the European culture. But with Toyota setting up their base in Germany, I wonder if that has helped the team be more accepted. Do you feel any difficulties?
Oh, every day. The most definitive difference between Toyota Motor Corporation and the other auto makers involved in F1 isn’t that we make both the engine and chassis in-house. First and foremost, we have had to actually create a team from scratch. Toyota Motor Corporation is a team in F1. Our chairman is Mr. Tomita from TMC in Japan. In other words, our team principal comes directly from Toyota Motor Corporation to the “village” of F1 racing. This is an area that is completely different than being in F1 as an engine supplier. This means that we have a responsibility to both the present and future of F1, and as Toyota Motor Corporation, we are taking that responsibility seriously.

To put it a different way, we came into the F1 family because we made a decision to commit to F1. And I think we have been rewarded by the way we have been accepted by F1. But there are still some difficult areas. For example, Toyota now has the responsibility to come to the aid of F1 in the difficulties they face today. But how do give our help? That’s a difficult question.

For example, as you probably know, we are now in the position of providing engines to a competing team. Now, our identity is more than an engine supplier. We are a full constructor team, developing and building both chassis and engine—it is part of our new identity. We now have two roles in one. It isn’t part of our vision to separate these roles and pursue only one.
If you stop to consider the future of F1 as a whole, there are some teams who will still need engines. We brought together the principals of different teams and had a big conference.

Toyota Motor Corporation has the capacity to supply engines. We are a straight-forward company. Our intent is to do everything we possibly can as a participant in the world of F1 racing. Mr. Tomita really agonized over the situation, but in the end, he made the decision that we will supply engines that are needed. We run into these kinds of tough decisions.

• But the other F1 teams from around the world must have extremely strong backing as well…
That’s exactly right. But for us, we don’t want to only “contribute” to F1. Our goal is to produce solid “results.” That’s why our number one target this year is a podium finish.

Making F1 Dreams a Reality
• I think there are many young people out there dreaming of a job in the F1 world. What advice do you have for those who might be dreaming of being involved in F1 as, perhaps, an employee of Toyota?
It’s a very tough path to take. It’s a lot different than just deciding whether you want to become and engine or chassis engineer. But I’d say it would be easier to break in on the engine side from a perspective of supply and demand for skilled engineers. For example, someone who really had a strong enough desire could potentially get on with an auto manufacturer or a racing engine tuning firm. The engine field is a specialty of the Japanese, so that type of work should be available in Japan. It would be a good idea to study engineering at university…but personally, I wouldn’t say that a college education is an absolute requirement. Even with the same goal, people get there by different paths. The only thing you absolutely have to have is the burning desire to make it.
The chassis is a different story. It’s difficult because for a race, you only need as many people as required for the number of cars you have. I think a lot of people have an image in their head that they want to wear a wireless headset and be in the racing trenches. But you only need a certain number of crew members for each car. It’s a very small market. There’s not going to be a leap in the number of cars anytime soon, either.

Now, having said that, it’s certainly not impossible. If your desire is great enough that you’re willing to do anything, then I’d advise you, from my own experience, to go to America and try from there.
You’re not just going to show up somewhere in Europe or Japan and get on. The competition is too tough. But in America, the overall population for such work is large. Get experience and build a resume in American, and then you’ll have a better chance getting work in Europe or Japan. I think that’s a more realistic plan.
I started in the CART championships in America. Now I’m involved in F1. I hope everyone out there can reach their dreams. And I hope my advice has been of some help.