Toyota Confirms F1 Departure
November 4, 2009 by mark h
Filed under Parc Fermé, Prime & Option, Top Story
Japan’s last F1 team has left the sport. As of now. Toyota has pulled out of Formula 1 with immediate effect. The world’s largest carmaker blamed the recession and faltering car market for its decision.
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces it plans to withdraw from the FIA Formula 1 world championship at the end of the 2009 season.
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.
Toyota had committed to the new Concorde agreement, and was therefore theoretically signed up until 2012. The team had also been unsuccessfully chasing top drivers like Kimi Raikonnen and Robert Kubica for next season, whilst team boss John Howett had also insinuated that Kamui Kobayashi’s excellent stand-in performances would earn the young Japanese driver a ride. Officially, at least, it seemed that all the Cologne-based team was facing for 2010 was a reduced budget.
But it seems the less positive auspices – like Fujiyama raceway’s departure as a Grand Prix venue and Williams’ withdrawal from a Toyota engine deal – have won through.
It already looked like 2008 drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock were to be left out in the cold, but there is no news yet on what will become of the Toyota team’s base and employees, most of whom are based in Cologne.
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.
TMC intends to do its best to find a solution for those parties who will be affected by any inconvenience this decision may cause.
Let’s face it, Toyota’s eight season stint in F1 wasn’t exactly a happy one. The team never won a race, spent well over a billion dollars, and only really succeeded – eventually – in beating Japanese rivals Honda.
However, 2009 was a banner season of sorts for the team. As a member of the double diffuser trio, the team started the season fairly strongly with a string of podiums and a front-row lockout in Bahrain, a race they probably should have won. What’s more, Jarno Trulli’s pace at Spa later in the season might also have been enough for a maiden victory, had the stars aligned correctly.
So this – to me at least – is a strange time for the team to decide to bow out of the sport. Especially with costs getting slashed (and no amount of recession leaves Toyota THAT broke, anyway) and a bunch of new teams coming in as cannon fodder to make the established teams look good next year. They are hardly leaving on a high note as it is, but I guess everything’s relative.
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.
Just FYI, folks, Renault is also discussing its involvement at a board meeting later today, although conventional wisdom states that the team is still committed to the sport. Here’s hoping.
But on the slightly brighter side, could this be the opportunity that Dr. Mario was looking for?
Loading ...
Unfortunate and proof that you can’t necessarily spend your way to victory in F1. You still need to have a winning team (once you have that, then you can spend your way to victory, but you get the point :-)
The only thing I’ll miss about Yoda’s departure is the loss of Fuji raceway (which is mitigated by the return of Suzuka in any case). I do hope Kobiyashi has a chance to prove himself in another team though, he looked the absolute beans in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
I pray this is the 1UP Super Mario Theisen and his people need to return in 2010.
Peter Sauber, over to you.
Toyota, don’t let the turnstile hit yer ass on the way out. Buh-bye.
The global recession eh? I’m not sure that the people of Dubai know what this phenomenon is from what just appeared in the desert. Kind of ironic that this would be the last place Toyota raced at in F1.
It definitely would be great to see Sauber back next year as they’re always pretty competitive and mix it up with the big boys better than most. And it’d be a shame to see the talented Nick Heidfeld without a drive next year.
I think we’re going to see one of the VW brands enter F1…so they can quit and blame the recession…
Skoda F1. I love it…
Japan has been in recovery mode for so long after one of their hardest recessions to date. The US has been Toyota’s biggest market in the past, and its recovery is also slowly improving. With almost all of the other US manufacturers being in the red since late ’08, I guess manufacturers are protecting their investments by eliminating excess spending. When a business is not turning a profit, cutting costs or selling more are really your only options. Guess they made their decision. At least they didn’t say that they were leaving the sport because it wasn’t green enough for them (BMW).
For me at least, the 2010 season is going to be an empty one with Toyota F1 not on the grid. I was really looking forward to the ’10 season with some different drivers, and a new effort to get to the top of the podium.
I feel your pain. I know you had some high hopes and good thoughts heading into 2010. Kamui’s driving in the past two races probably added to it.
Yea, I was really looking froward to seeing him in that car next year.
USF1EXYZwhatever needs to grab him quick.
Here’s a question, Since Toyota signed the concord agreement, does that mean if they sell the team, the new team would still be on the grid to the exclusion of the old BMW?
That’s a good question…how did all that play out with the Brawn take-over of Honda?
I’m not sure. But there wasn’t a waiting list to get in last year either.