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[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Toyota's team boss has indicated the Japanese manufacturer might decide to pull out of Formula One.

Amid rumours about the Toyota Motor Corporation's wavering commitment to the sport because of its serious financial losses, Tadashi Yamashina said the cost of competing in F1 is an issue.

"We need to turn it into an F1 where you don't need so much money," he said at a news conference in Tokyo, according to the Yomiuri newspaper.

Toyota's team president John Howett has been at the forefront of the Formula One Teams' Association efforts to cut costs, but the Briton was also one of the leading protagonists of the argument against FIA President Max Mosley's budget cap.

"We'll have to consider various issues while bearing in mind our ties with the main company," Yamashina continued. "We will participate for now - we have to consider a variety of things in relation to our core business. Our participation is unclear, depending on our financial results."

Cologne-based Toyota has signed the new Concorde Agreement, which binds teams to F1 until the end of 2012, but the team's 2010 budget has not yet been approved by the carmaker's executive committee. It is said that this can be done at a November 15 meeting at the earliest, after the current Formula One season has concluded.

After 14 out 17 races, Toyota reached the podium on three occasions, including Timo Glock's second-place finish in Singapore last weekend. The team's objective this season is to record its maiden F1 victory.

Jarno Trulli's contract negotiations have apparently stalled due to the pending budget questions, and Glock was recently told he is free to look for opportunities elsewhere.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

It does seem as though Toyota are paving the way for their exit, to be honest. It's a pity there were not more credible outfits in Formula One, otherwise their leaving would not be too big of a shame.

[EwanM]

Gilles27 made this point in the podcast last night, very viable too.

[zweiblumen]

And yet according to the BBC they are targeting Kimi as one of their drivers for 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 286253.stm

[myownalias]

I can't see Raikkonen going to Toyota, it's not like it's exactly a competitive car; and I doubt they'll have a budget for Raikkonen either! Personally I wouldn't miss Toyota should they abandon their F1 efforts like Honda did a year ago. Toyota has made no real impact on F1 and unless they get that elusive maiden win, I half expect them to be gone come the end of the year paving the way for Sauber to rejoin the F1 grid!

[Gaz]

They are also looking at Robert Kubica i've heard.

If they can afford it RK and KR would be a great lineup.

[vaptin]

They are also looking at Robert Kubica i've heard.

If they can afford it RK and KR would be a great lineup.

yeah, but will they then be able to afford an actual competitive car?

[bud]

They are also looking at Robert Kubica i've heard.

If they can afford it RK and KR would be a great lineup.

yeah, but will they then be able to afford an actual competitive car?

money hasnt been the key for them, they have had roughly the biggest budget in F1 for a few years.

[headless]

e

[Juliet P]

e

..by gum!

[Tony_sa]

e

..by gum!

damned if i know ....

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Toyota is committed to Formula One until at least 2012 and is investigating widespread media reports that the Japanese carmaker is considering pulling out, according to a team spokesman.

At a media event in Tokyo earlier this week, team principal Tadashi Yamashina was quoted as saying the Cologne-based team's future is "unclear" and dependent on the "financial results" of its parent.

But in less widely-circulated reports of the same Japanese news conference, Yamashina apparently actually said that Toyota has signed the 2010-2012 Concorde Agreement and is therefore committed to staying in F1.

Then on Thursday, Toyota announced the signing of a supplier agreement for the 2010 season "and beyond", with Yamashina explaining that "development and planning for next season has already begun."

A Toyota spokesman said the team is looking into how Yamashina's other controversial comments, which were translated by major wire agencies from Japanese, came about.

"As far as the team is concerned, we are committed to F1 through 2012. We are making inquiries about the reported comments. The feeling is that something may have been lost in translation," he is quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[Jim Riven]

From F1 Live: he is quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

Oh if its the Guardian then all our worries are over, I personally cannot imagine that this well respected newspaper would ever knowingly create a story from thin air.

To all non UK based forumites i would suggest a quick google " The Guardian".

[headless]

From F1 Live: he is quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

Oh if its the Guardian then all our worries are over, I personally cannot imagine that this well respected newspaper would ever knowingly create a story from thin air.

To all non UK based forumites i would suggest a quick google " The Guardian".

[EwanM]

They Guardian has some brilliant F1 writers.

[hypertek]

i think the toyotas are very capable cars, we seen glock and truli pull some great qualifiers a few times, but its hte drivers, they cant take those great qualifying positions to the podium.