Toyota admits WEC drivers' title was settled before Monza

Toyota says the battle for the 2026 World Endurance Championship drivers' title was effectively decided before the Monza 6 Hours. Only Toyota crews were still in contention after a dominant 1-2 finish at Barcelona in October, with the #8 car of Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa and Sebastien Buemi holding a 17-point lead over the sister #7 car.

With only 25 points available at Monza, the prospect of a close showdown was already limited. Toyota never had the pace to run near the front in either wet or dry conditions, leaving the title all but settled before the race started. Technical director David Floury said the team had known beforehand it would not be in contention, and hinted that the lack of speed was beyond its control, without directly discussing the Balance of Performance.

Floury described the result as a little sad, and agreed the finale had been an anticlimactic end to a season in which both Toyotas appeared closely matched.