1302 replies to this topic

[vietlol]

Im gonna laugh when on the 8th Toyota announce their commitment and drivers.

[chiuey]

Im gonna laugh when on the 8th Toyota announce their commitment and drivers.

It's official, Toyota is out.

By Matt Beer Wednesday, November 4th 2009, 08:13 GMT

Toyota has announced that it is to pull out of Formula 1 with immediate effect.

The Japanese car company revealed its surprise decision in a news conference in Tokyo today following an earlier board meeting. It said the current economic situation had prompted its departure.

"Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces it plans to withdraw from the FIA Formula 1 world championship at the end of the 2009 season," said a Toyota statement.

"TMC, which had viewed its participation in F1 as contributing to the prosperity of automotive culture, remained dedicated to competing at the pinnacle of motor sports even in the face of the abrupt economic changes that started last year.

"However, when considering TMC's motorsports actitives next year and beyond from a comprehensive mid-term viewpoint reflecting the current severe economic realities, TMC decided to withdraw from F1"

There had been doubts about Toyota's F1 future after the company reported its first ever operating loss in March, and given the departures of fellow manufacturers Honda and BMW. Toyota had also pulled its Fuji track, which hosted the 2007 and 2008 Japanese Grands Prix, from the calendar, and its customer team Williams decided to end its engine deal a year early.

But Toyota signed the new Concorde Agreement, committing it to the world championship through 2012, and team boss John Howett was adamant that the squad would be on the grid in 2010, although there were hints of a reduced budget.

The team had been pressing ahead with 2010 preparations - approaching big name drivers including Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica, and talking of signing impressive stand-in Kamui Kobayashi for next year as recently as last weekend. Current drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock had already been expected to move on.

"TMC also wants to express its heartfelt gratitude to all Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers to date and to all Toyota Motorsport GmbH employees who have helped make the team's achievements possible," said the statement.

"TMC intends to do its best to find a solution for those parties who will be affected by any inconvenience this decision may cause."

Toyota entered F1 in 2002, and was tipped to swiftly become a championship challenger given its huge budget and resources. But it failed to win a race and has just three pole positions, 13 podium finishes, and a best result of fourth in the 2005 constructors' standings to show for its 139 grands prix.

The departure of Toyota is set to throw the former BMW Sauber team a lifeline, as the Hinwil squad and its new owners had been relying on another team dropping out in order to claim the final spot in next season's expanded 26-car entry.

Renault is also holding an extraordinary board meeting to discuss its future plans today. Although the indications are that the French company is committed to F1, Toyota's decision to pull out could give Renault an opportunity to follow suit if it wished.

Toyota added that it would continue to use its F1 experience in "developing exciting production vehicles" and that it would remain involved in motor racing, albeit at a lower level.

"In motorsports, [Toyota] will not only race in various categories, but will also actively contribute to further development of motorsports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate."

[chiuey]

Michelin and Goodyear, the most recent tyre brands in Formula One, have played down suggestions they might take over from Bridgestone as F1's exclusive supplier in 2011 and beyond.

A spokeswoman for Michelin's North American headquarters said the French company is not interested in returning to Formula One, after it pulled out at the end of the 'tyre war' era three years ago and then rowed with the FIA.

The American brand Goodyear left F1 at the end of 1998, following an ultra-successful three decades on the grid.

"We have no plans to re-enter F1," spokesman Ed Markey told the Akron Beacon Journal, which like Goodyear is based in Akron, Ohio.

"However, we continually evaluate a wide range of opportunities to determine the best fit for our strategic direction and make decisions based on the best interests of the company," he added.

Other reports said the Italian tyre maker Pirelli, having shown interest in obtaining the 2008-2010 tender, is also not likely to be interested in returning to F1.

IBHOVERCRAFF1CARS!!!

[MrHahn]

IBHOVERCRAFF1CARS!!!

New wheel/tyre combo for regulations without Bridgestone

[Shi]

fucking hell

[Shi]

I guess Kobayashi is off to make Sushi lol

[vietlol]

This means Sauber will be on the grid.

I guess thats Heidfeld+somebody, Kobayashi? XD

[_R_]

I guess thats Heidfeld+somebody, Kobayashi? XD

of all people deserving a ride, Koby is on top of that list...

[vietlol]

[Redliner]

Geezus. F1 is hurting...I didn't know it was going to get THIS bad...Yeah, Toyota/BMW pulling out is bad enough but now no tire tire mftg wants back in?

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

i guess williams made the right choice by going w/ cosworth then.

[Redliner]

i guess williams made the right choice by going w/ cosworth then.

They probably got indications from Toyota that it would be best to not use Toyota engines next year...

[Skyliner]

So, I guess I get to Nacho it up, and pull for whomever strikes my fancy that particular week?

[_R_]

in theory... if Kimi signed for Toyota, and then they bailed... would he get paid? even for part of the contract, like some sort of exit clause?

[DrDickAction]

So, I guess I get to Nacho it up, and pull for whomever strikes my fancy that particular week?

Or just wait until the last minute rescued former 'yota team wins both chips

[Redliner]

Anyone betting on Kobayashi getting picked up for next season?

[DrDickAction]

Anyone betting on Kobayashi getting picked up for next season?

5$ says he ends up somewhere.

[_R_]

On the same day as Toyota revealed its withdrawal from F1, and just a day after Bridgestone announced that it would not be renewing its tyre-supply contract post-2010, it has emerged that Renault too is deliberating its future in the sport – as an emergency board meeting has been called in Paris.

According to the BBC, the purpose of the hastily-convened reunion is to decide whether to honour Renault's commitment to the Concorde Agreement in staying put until at least 2012, remain involved but only as an engine-supplier or, most drastically of all, walk away completely – what many had surmised would happen even before the 'Singapore-gate' race-fixing scandal that dragged the French company's name so publicly and negatively through the mud.

Confirmation of the decision is not expected to come today (Wednesday), as president Carlos Ghosn is due to promote the car maker's zero-emissions policy during a special publicity event on Thursday, but should Renault F1 indeed cease to exist, it would become the fourth automotive manufacturer – and fifth major manufacturer in general, including Bridgestone – to pull out in the space of less than a year, after Honda suddenly and unexpectedly pulled the plug on what is now Brawn GP last December, and BMW and Toyota followed suit at the end of the recently-completed campaign.

The BBC states that whilst both acting team principal Bob Bell and managing director Jean-François Caubet will be present at the meeting, they will have no say in its outcome – following what has been the Enstone-based outfit's least competitive season at the highest level since 2001, finishing a lowly eighth in the final constructors' standings with a grand total of just 26 points, all scored by double F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso.

The campaign has also been dogged by controversy and humiliation, and the departure in disgrace of former managing director Flavio Briatore and executive director of engineering Pat Symonds, both of whom have since been banned from the sport entirely for having ordered Nelsinho Piquet to deliberately crash out of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix in order to enable team-mate Alonso to triumph in F1's inaugural night race from a disadvantaged grid position following an engine failure in qualifying.

It is not known what would happen to Robert Kubica should Renault walk away, after the highly-rated BMW-Sauber refugee signed to replace the Ferrari-bound Alonso in 2010.

[Redliner]

Fack man. this isn't cool...

In other news, is Theissen still working for BMW, or Sauber's F1 team now? He sure seems like he has his hands in the pot trying to get the Sauber team back onto the grid to replace Toyota...if so, kudos to him.

Theissen keen on keeping Sauber in F1
Formula One on Wednesday was dealing with the loss of Toyota, but the Japanese carmaker's decision was the best possible news for those at Sauber's Hinwil headquarters.

The collapse of a confirmed team for 2010 opens the door for the newly Qadbak-owned outfit in the wake of BMW's departure.

Registered as the 14th of a 13-team field, Sauber is dependent on the withdrawal of a competitor to gain access to next year's championship, unless all remaining teams agree to amend the regulations and open a 14th space - in the event that the Toyota operation is taken up by a buyer and remains a competitor.

Selling the team was mentioned as an option earlier on Wednesday, but it is believed that Toyota team boss John Howett has played down that possibility.

Instead, Toyota Motorsport GmbH could live on with another project for the Japanese manufacturer, such as establishing a Le Mans Series team.

"Toyota Motor Corporation will race in various categories," the carmaker said without elaborating.



If Toyota's departure effectively leaves an empty garage in the Formula One paddock, the Sauber team is more than willing to move in.

"We will be discussing the effect (of Toyota's departure) for the BMW Sauber team with the FIA," team boss Mario Theissen is quoted as saying by the news agency SID.

Speaking from the Race of Champions event in Beijing, German driver Sebastian Vettel pointed out the human element of Toyota's decision.

"Of course it's really bad for the 600 people who work there," said Vettel, according to the Bild newspaper. "The question is what happens now with them?"

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

[kngrsll]

Fack man. this isn't cool...

In other news, is Theissen still working for BMW, or Sauber's F1 team now? He sure seems like he has his hands in the pot trying to get the Sauber team back onto the grid to replace Toyota...if so, kudos to him.

i think dr mario is leaving BMW and working with whoever team sauber becomes... if i remember right

[kngrsll]

this is bad man... hope F1 can survive

[vietlol]

I hope F1 doesnt turn into what the WRC is right now

[vietlol]

F1 reality is serious says Ferrari


Scuderia Ferrari have released a statement in light of today's headline announcement that Toyota is leaving Formula One. The Italian team controversially stated that the current F1 situation is the result of a 'war' against the big teams by the sport's governance.

The statement reads: "It seems like a parody of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians", published in England for the first time in the year 1939, but reality is much more serious. Formula 1 continues loosing important parts: over the last 12 months Honda, BMW, Bridgestone and this morning Toyota announced their retirements.

"In exchange, if one could call it that, Manor, Lotus (because of the team of Colin Chapman, Jim Clark and Ayrton Senna, to name a few, there is hardly more than the name), USF1 and Campos Meta arrived. You might say "same-same", because it is enough if there are participants. But that's not entirely true and then we've got to see if next year we'll be really as many in Bahrain for the first starting grid of the 2010 season and how many will make it to the end of the season.

"In reality the steady trickle of desertion is more the result of a war against the big car manufacturers by those who managed the sport, than the effects of the economical that affected Formula 1 over the last years. In Christie's detective novel the guilty person is only discovered when everybody else is dead, one after the other. Do we want to wait until this happens or should we write Formula 1's book with a different closing chapter?"

[vietlol]

Rubens Barrichello this week made his first visit to Williams, his next destination as a Formula One driver.

The Brazilian veteran has been signed by the British team for 2010, and he headed straight from Abu Dhabi to Grove to tour the factory and even look around Williams' famous F1 car museum, according to the O Globo newspaper.

37-year-old Barrichello revealed that he also had talks with McLaren a few weeks ago in Brazil "but my contract with Williams was already signed" he pointed out.

"I am going to realise a dream, because ever since I saw F1 on TV for the first time, I have


dreamed of driving for them," said the holder of the record for the most career grand prix.



Barrichello, whose mentor Ayrton Senna died at the wheel of a Williams in 1994, also revealed that his Brawn contract this year was initially for only the first four races with "the rest depending on my results and my work."

interesting

[vietlol]

Real Champions aren't quitters:

http://www.renault-f...et-Etre-3eme-en

Interviewed by L'Equipe today, Jean-Francois Caubet confirms the presence of Renault in F1 for next season. He also announced the objectives of Renault for the future. In 2010, the objective will be 3rd place in the world championship. The CEO of Renault F1 Team also speaks of the future of Romain Grosjean and its subsidiary Renault Driver Development (RDD).

Jean-Francois Caubet announcement: Renault will be there in 2010. "We hired our driver, the budget is passed, it has registered for the championship in 2010. The 2010 season, is starting. Carlos Ghosn asks us to return to a good standard and, must restabilize Enstone and Viry.

"I think aiming for 3rd is a reasonable goal," he announces on the objectives for 2010. Unlike previous years with Flavio Briatore, the objective is not the title for Renault.

The team principle also comes on the recruitment of Robert Kubica. "This is Bernard (Rey) who signs and who gave us a delegation. With Robert, it was simple. We explained to him our goals, our organization and he was interested immediately. He knew there were some risks, but what are the teams who have no risk? . The profile of Robert Kubica was "Someone who can score".

Regarding the second driver for Renault in 2010, the choice seems difficult. Romain Grosjean did not convinced his team. "We're a little undecided, to be honest. The decision is difficult. We have invested financially in Romain, for three years. "

Jean-Francois Caubet also spoke of reducing costs, at Enstone. "We reduced our staff by 70 people in Enstone, in January and February 2009. It is down below the limit of 2010 goals by FOTA. This time, it was said to Bob (Bell): "Listen, if you want results, we give you the top people to fill the gap. So we will rehire some aero engineeers to to raise the bar.

The team principle of Renault F1 Team has the reason for the poor 2009 season: "Everybody made a mistake. We put such pressure on to lower costs that went too far. What happened is we have reduced staff on a voluntary basis. And there were many more volunteers than expected. So, we lost 70 people on a staff of 450. Then we plugged the holes with young ... And this is where we say that the experience is still something special. "