Toyota quits F1 *confirmed*

[veeten]

Looks like that date will decide more than we'll ever know...

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...03090718.shtml

[christophulus]

I'll be surprised if Toyota are still in F1 next year, everything is pointing towards an exit. Kobayashi might find a seat at Lotus or somewhere though, he deserves another chance.

[gloomyDAY]

My birthday....?

[ClarkFan]

My birthday....?

No, my birthday!



ClarkFan

[paddocknews]

It is being reported by Japanese newspaper Mainichi Daily News that the Toyota board have decided to pull out of Formula 1

“Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s greatest motor racing, Formula One (F1) has decided to withdraw as far as this year.”

http://www.formula1blogger.com/2009/...cement-sunday/

[ioan]

Mercedes were being rumored to do the same 6 months ago, only for them to go on and buy into a 2nd team.

[Blancvino]

I have a pint of ale that say they close shop.

[Nikki Katz]

I don't really know what to make of this. We've known all along that they haven't had their budget secured for next year and could theoretically pull out at this meeting, the rough date of which has been known for ages. Yet they've been adamant they're going nowhere. Maybe they just haven't told the team either.

I'm definitely expecting a large cut in the budget. I'm not expecting them to pull out, but I wouldn't be shocked if they did.

[ioan]

I suppose to counteract that arguement would be to suggest that Mercedes haven't got a long history of being Shyte...

I suppose Toyota is the biggest car manufacturer, bigger than Mercedes for a reason, they sure must be doing something right.

[ioan]

I don't really know what to make of this. We've known all along that they haven't had their budget secured for next year and could theoretically pull out at this meeting, the rough date of which has been known for ages. Yet they've been adamant they're going nowhere. Maybe they just haven't told the team either.

I'm definitely expecting a large cut in the budget. I'm not expecting them to pull out, but I wouldn't be shocked if they did.

All the teams are taking a huge budget cut next season, no need for all that money with all the limitations in place, wind tunnel and CFD are limited to about a 3rd of what they were, in season testing is banned, 8 engines/driver for the whole season and so on.
200 millions will be most they would need even with Kimi like driver salaries.

Maybe Kobayashi doing so well in Abu Dhabi will be enough to keep the Toyota Board happy, and than there's Toyoda being a motorsport enthusiast, so not everything is lost.