The F1 rumour mill is eating up stories as fast as the cars tear up the tarmac. Today, the spotlight shifts to a well-known Japanese carmaker, setting the stage for ever more intrigue.
But it’s not Honda, having already confirmed its plans to continue its presence on the Formula 1 grid post-Red Bull collaboration in 2026 – switching gears to join forces with Aston Martin. This time, the rumour mill is whispering ‘Toyota’ – another giant from the Land of the Rising Sun.
Toyota recently fueled rumours of a potential F1 comeback, with the signing of their Super Formula driver, Ryo Hirakawa, to McLaren. The move caught the attention of the paddock, but now the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti is repeating new rumours linking Toyota with Sauber, amidst parallel whispers the Swiss team’s deal with Audi for 2026 might be hitting a rough patch.
“The end of Audi’s F1 project would be a disaster for Sauber,” shared Juuso Taipale, a Finnish correspondent. “But Toyota is rumoured to be their rescuer.” Taipale paints a picture of Toyota not just saving the day but taking a bold step by returning to F1 as a full works team for the first time since quitting the sport in 2009. “Toyota would also supply power units to McLaren,” Taipale added, though he was careful to underscore that, for now, these remain unsourced rumours and perhaps even pure speculation.
The plot thickens, though, with a personal turn for Sauber-Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish driver who, at 34, believes he still has plenty left in the tank. “Some teams want young, new drivers,” Bottas shared on a podcast with Finnish journalist Oskari Saari. “Some teams want experience.”
Bottas, already contracted for the 2024 season, is eyeing a potential opportunity with Audi, motivated by the prospect of climbing back to the top. “At the moment, my number 1 goal is getting into Audi’s project. It’s a big car manufacturer and they have big goals right from the start,” he expressed. “It could be a really good opportunity for me to get closer to the top again.”
