The Woking-based outfit recently ended a long-running deal it had to use Toyota’s wind tunnel in Cologne, as it shifted its programme to its own new facility in Woking.
But rather than it being the end of their association, it appears that the McLaren and Toyota partnership is actually evolving and getting closer.
Evidence of that came ahead of last weekend’s Japanese GP when McLaren announced that Toyota factory driver Ryo Hirakawa had been signed up to its roster of reserve drivers for 2024.
As part of the deal, the Japanese would also join McLaren’s simulator programme and conduct some tests in its 2021 car.
Hirakawa’s deal seemed to be a leftfield choice as he had never previously been on the radar for F1 teams, but it has clearly come amid a push by Toyota to get some stronger links with grand prix racing.
The presence of Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda with McLaren at last weekend’s Japanese GP, as part of a delegation from the Japanese manufacturer, also further fuelled the idea of a growing interest in F1.
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It even prompted rumours that McLaren could have Toyota on the radar as a potential future engine partner should it elect to return to F1 at some point - having been absent since its withdrawal at the end of 2009.
Asked by Autosport to explain the background to the Hirakawa appointment, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella revealed that it was part of a bigger picture agreement with Toyota.
“There was the element of, having started a driver development programme, there's quite a lot of people knocking on the door,” said Stella.
Source: Autosport