Formula One news: Toyota hints exit from F1 - GPUpdate.net Formula One



The Toyota team is close to pulling out of Formula 1, it has warned, after seeing the two other Japanese teams - Super Aguri and Honda - leave the sport last year. The team is not happy with the FIA's new proposed regulations for a budget cap and 'two tier' system to be introduced next season, forecasting little future in the sport for next season.

"Under the rules as they are published, we cannot submit an entry," team president John Howett told Autosport. "There are concerns about the governance process within the sport, that there are clearly prescribed areas of discussion within the sporting and technical rules and we don't feel they are being complied with.

"From Toyota's perspective there are a number of concerns that really need clarifications before we commit to the future; we want to be here, we believe we have been a good corporate citizen within the F1 environment, but now we must reflect long and hard on what we do in the future."

As a result of Howett's comments, the chances of seeing the team remain in the sport for 2010 appear slim unless regulations are modified by governing body the FIA. "I would say it is very likely we won't enter unless something changes significantly," he confirmed.

 

How come you are not joining the F1 threads

 

no time

 

Toyota... BMW... Ferrari all threatening. FIA's gotta be reconsidering the rules now for next year.

 

IIVVX great job at keeping the pit-stop updated with F1 news much appreciated

 

thank you, im happy to help

 

Devil's Advocate here: I just did an extensive powerpoint covering Honda Motor Corp. for a class, with probably 2/3 of the coverage devoted to the financial composition of the company (income statement, balance sheet DUH) and it looked to both me and my professor (not an accountant, an economist) that Honda dropped out as sort of a "preemptive strike," and was very much concerned with minimizing its losses, especially in comparison with Toyota.

It's obviously ironic that Brawn is the class of the field right now; had Honda known this I feel certain that they would have stayed.

Another point to mention is the marketing side; there comes a point where no publicity would be better than languishing in the back of the pack week-in-week-out, creating a perception that your workaday production cars might not be able to cut it either.

Just my $.02

 

I am getting a bit tired of all this saber rattling. If they are going to leave then they just should. Hey, if Toyota leaves, maybe its replacement will become the best team on the grid like Brawn!!

 

can you imagine how much the honda board is enjoying brawn's successes?

 

The more I think about it, most teams probably are bluffing. Toyota may not be though; with Honda gone they might have no real reason to stay (think game theory, strategy).

Bernie and Max would sh!t a brick if Ferrari, Toyota, BMW, et alia departed and either joined A1 GP or started their own series. That would be the effective end of Formula One as we know it. F1 can survive if Ferrari is a non-participant at the highest level of international motorsport, but they can't if Ferrari and other prestigious manufacturers go to a new series. McLaren would have to jump ship, as well, if Ferrari left I think.

This is a colossal game of chicken.