Toyota: We’ll throw in a Kobayashi if you buy now!
December 3, 2009 by Negative Camber
Filed under Prime & Option
Dovetailing with the FIA announcement today that Peter Sauber’s team will inherit Toyota’s grid slot for the 2010 season, there is a story at Autosport regarding Toyota’s position in all of this.
From what I can glean, Toyota has agreed not to sell its team to another investor and relinquished their contractually guaranteed grid slot back to the FIA (who promptly gave it to Sauber).
It is also mentioned in the article that Toyota are indeed offering a going-out-of-business sale for some inventory and gray matter design elements to any of the new teams including Stefan GP (who have not secured a grid position for the 2010 season).
It also said that they are offering driver Kamui Kobayashi as part of the sale. I guess freight containers, preliminary 2010 car design and a Kamui Kobayashi are something you can buy. Perhaps F1B should save some cash and buy us a Kamui Kobayashi. Grace could re-sell the freight containers and keep Kobayashi as a pool boy or personal servant?
This is disconcerting as it suggests that Toyota owns Kobayashi and this will put a damper on his ability to find the best deal at another team. After impressing the world with his debut in F1 in 2009, it would be sad to see Toyota attach some nonsensical inventory purchase with Kobayashi in order to move some bulk inventory to a team who only need a driver. Let us hope that isn’t what they are doing or implying per the Autosport article.
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Sauber should grab Koba Beef and Nick Heidfeld now. At least you know then you will outperform the Sr. League of Trulli/JV at Lotus.
How true. Peter could get a 2010 car design, freight containers and a Kobayashi thrown in with the water cooler and three potted plants. Nick would be happy with several of those sweet inventory items. :)
water cooler and three potted plants???? are we talking about Toyota or USF1
Looks like the perfect opportunity for USF1 to get a good driver and a competitive chassis design right away. They can name the car USF1TF110.
Oh wait. USF1 actually would prefer Jose Maria Lopez over Kamui Kobayashi. And Ken Anderson is still busy trying to update the Falcon to F1 standards.
Kobe is racing’s version of Ronin.
I never walk into a place I don’t know how to get out of. :)
Great movie – I’d recommend it if you like car chases, or you would like to test out your new 7.1/5.1 surround sound!
Every F1 owner needs to get hit with a tack hammer if Kamui Kobayashi does not have a ride for next year. I can’t believe nobody has picked him up yet. He can drive. He adds excitement to F1. And has a large sponsorship backing. This all sounds great to me. I wonder how Button feels about Kamui Kobayashi being back in F1 next year giving the fact how he got schooled by him in Brazil in the kids first race.
That’s a little rich. Button actually did get by Kobayashi. And any time the leading car moves around in the braking zone like Kobayashi was doing, if the following driver has any sense of self-preservation, he will take his time to pass.
Kobi also had nothing, absolutly ZERO to lose, so he put his car in a position where the other had to give way or else crash, and when those others are fighting for the championships they will always concede position. Especially when the position will be retaken when the pitstops are over.
Maybe it would have been different at the start of the season when drivers tend to fight a bit harder.
Maybe the offer of Kobi is that they will pay his salary… I hope they don’t have a contract on him, that could be a tragedy for the guy’s future.
This reminded me that I needed to buy some Toyota F1 apparel … but evidently they are done selling the promo hats and shirts and have moved on the the F1 transport trucks, technology and drivers. Is that like super-sizing your meal; for another 39 cents you can add Kobe beef to your order?!