view photoFormula 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?"
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Bernie and Max are total idiots to say that it would be USF1 out of the new teams that would drop out first....@#$%s.
I have to agree with you on this one, Six. Everyone has been holding their breath for the next shoe to drop, be it an established team or one of the newcomers. Bernie and Max were certain it was USF1, but more than a couple of voices have hinted to Toyota. I feel bad for Kobayashi, but there are still teams who have yet to firm their lineup, so he has a chance. Glock is on a couple of lists from what I've heard and Trulli may or may not be done. But it's unfortunate that the rest of the crew are left in the lurch. In this economy, no one wants to see that happen.
That place should be given to the Sauber outfit outright with no questions, no one else should be allowed to come in and leapfrog them into Toyota's empty garage. The FIA made them team number 14 and essentially promised them first refusal for a spot on the grid, and as explained at the beginning of this year when Honda became Brawn, a buyer becomes a new team. That surely means Toyota's buyers would be in line behind Sauber.
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