Toyota’s entry into the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in January 1999, announced by then-president Hiroshi Okuda, was a testament to the company’s spirit of taking on challenges. This bold decision mirrored Toyota’s global expansion and pioneering work in hybrid technology, aiming to build a Formula 1 team from the ground up.
Unlike many manufacturers who opted to acquire existing teams or become engine suppliers, Toyota embraced the daunting task of designing and constructing its complete Formula 1 car entirely in-house. Toyota Motorsport’s base in Cologne, Germany, a facility already versed in World Rally Championship and Le Mans standards, was selected and underwent significant upgrades to meet the rigorous demands of Formula 1.
The year 2001 marked a crucial phase as Mika Salo joined the nascent Toyota F1 project. His role, alongside Allan McNish, was pivotal in developing Toyota’s first Formula 1 prototype, the TF101. This intensive testing and development program was all in preparation for their highly anticipated race debut in the subsequent year. The 2002 Australian Grand Prix became a historic moment for Toyota. In their very first Formula 1 race start with the TF102, Mika Salo impressively secured sixth place, earning Toyota its first valuable point.
The 2003 season saw Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta join Panasonic Toyota Racing, further strengthening the driver lineup. A significant milestone was achieved at Silverstone that year when Cristiano da Matta led the British Grand Prix, marking the first time a Panasonic Toyota Racing car had led a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The burgeoning team quickly demonstrated its potential, with both Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta achieving qualifying positions as high as third throughout the season.
Panasonic Toyota Racing continued its learning curve in the 2004 season, diligently building a foundation for future success. Experienced driver Jarno Trulli joined the team for the final two races of the year, setting the stage for a strengthened driver pairing with Ralf Schumacher, who joined from the start of the 2005 season.
With the experienced, Grand Prix-winning duo of Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher at the helm, the team made substantial progress in 2005. Jarno Trulli secured Toyota’s first Formula 1 podium finish with a second place in Malaysia, a feat he repeated in the very next race in Bahrain. He also achieved a third place in Spain, while Ralf Schumacher contributed another third place in Hungary and secured a memorable pole position at their home race in Japan. These strong performances propelled Panasonic Toyota Racing to a commendable fourth place in the constructors’ championship standings at the end of the season.
Building on the momentum of 2005, the team entered the 2006 season with high expectations. Despite Ralf Schumacher’s podium finish in Australia, the season proved to be more challenging than anticipated. However, the introduction of a B-spec car marked a performance improvement, enabling the team to finish the season with greater strength than they began, accumulating a total of 35 points.
Hopes for significant improvement were again high for the 2007 season. Jarno Trulli consistently demonstrated strong qualifying pace, securing top 10 starts on 14 occasions. Nevertheless, points proved elusive for both drivers throughout much of the season. Jarno Trulli delivered a standout performance at Indianapolis, finishing sixth, while Ralf Schumacher’s best result was also a sixth place achieved in Hungary. The team concluded the season with 13 points, fueled by a strong determination to achieve considerable improvements in 2008.
The 2008 season witnessed a notable resurgence. The new driver pairing of Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock injected fresh impetus into the team, leading to Toyota’s second-highest points total in Formula 1. A more stable and competitive car was central to this impressive season, allowing the team to comfortably achieve its objectives of returning to the podium and significantly increasing its points tally. Jarno Trulli achieved an emotional third place at Magny-Cours, while Timo Glock’s consistent progress culminated in a second-place finish in Hungary. These results put Toyota in contention for fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, but a late surge from Renault ultimately placed Toyota in a still-promising fifth position.
