Toyota: Tsuboi’s Fuji F1 test an “audition”, not a “reward”

Toyota has dismissed the notion that Sho Tsuboi’s maiden Formula 1 test opportunity with Haas at Fuji Speedway is a “reward” for his title success in Super Formula.

The Japanese marque’s director of global motorsport Masaya Kaji characterised the TPC test, which will take place on 6-7 August with the two-year-old Haas VF-23, as an “audition” that will be used to gauge Tsuboi's future potential.

Tsuboi will be in action on the second day of the test at Toyota’s home circuit, while Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will take the wheel on the opening day.

“What comes next totally depends on Tsuboi's performance and on his communication with the team,” Kaji told Autosport. 

“This is a kind of audition, or selection. It’s not just for his experience. We would like to assess his real level of performance.

“He must make a big effort especially to communicate in English. But the main target is to understand his potential. 

“Currently his performance is the best among the Japanese drivers, so it’s quite interesting for us, also for the other drivers in Japan and motorsport fans.”

Ryo Hirakawa, Haas F1

Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

Kaji described ex-Super Formula racer Hirakawa, who has made two FP1 outings for Haas so far this year and another for Alpine, as a “good benchmark” for Tsuboi.

He did however concede that differing conditions between the two days would make direct comparisons in terms of lap times during the test difficult.

Tsuboi becomes the latest Toyota-affiliated driver to get behind the wheel of the VF-23 in Haas’s newly-established TPC programme this year following Ritomo Miyata, his predecessor as Super Formula champion, and Kamui Kobayashi.

Formula 2 racer Miyata sampled the Haas at Jerez in January, while ex-Sauber and Caterham F1 driver Kobayashi drove the VF-23 in June at Paul Ricard in a run aimed at enabling him to better coach Toyota’s stable of youngsters in future.

Kaji wouldn’t be drawn on who could be next in line for an F1 test from Toyota’s domestic roster, but stressed that results in Super Formula will not be the decisive factor.

“To be honest, we don’t have any clear boundaries,” Kaji continued. “Tsuboi has very good potential, so it’s not only about his results. The test is not a reward for becoming Super Formula champion. 

Ritomo Miyata, VANTELIN TEAM TOM’S

Photo by: Masahide Kamio

“We will not have the same situation for other drivers [in future] who become champion. It is purely based on performance.”

Following his run for Haas in January, Miyata has also driven in TPC tests for Alpine, firstly at Zandvoort and then at Monza. 

Those opportunities came despite Miyata struggling for performance in his second season of F2 with ART Grand Prix, although he achieved a season-best result of second in wet conditions at Spa, having qualified in the same position.

“At the moment, we want to give him as much experience as we can," said Kaji of Miyata. "It’s important to give him the environment where he can focus on driving, regardless of the team or the car.”