Toyota quit Formula One
Eurosport - Wed, 04 Nov 07:24:00 2009
Toyota have withdrawn from Formula One, leaving Japan without a team in motorsport's premier series.
Company president Akio Toyoda apologised for the team's failure to record a single race victory since joining F1 in 2002 despite an estimated annual budget of around $300 million (£200m).
"This was a difficult but ultimately unavoidable decision," he said in Tokyo. "Since last year with the worsening economic climate, we have been struggling with the question of whether to continue in F1.
"We are pulling out of Formula One completely. I offer my deepest apologies to Toyota's many fans for not being able to achieve the results we had targeted."
The decision by the world's largest carmaker to pull out of Formula One comes as the auto industry starts to stabilise following a sales crunch in the wake of the financial crisis.
Cologne-based Toyota's departure as a team and engine supplier deals another major blow to the sport after Japan's number two carmaker Honda quit the series last December.
It leaves Japan without a team in F1 and continues the drain of Japanese companies from motorsport, which has seen Subaru and Suzuki withdraw from the world rallying championship.
Bike maker Kawasaki also scrapped its MotoGP team in the grip of a severe market downturn.
Japanese tyremaker Bridgestone announced on Monday they would not renew their supply contract with Formula One after the 2010 season.
In July, Toyota's Fuji International Speedway circuit surrendered hosting rights for the Japanese Grand Prix in 2010 and beyond to reduce costs amid the global economic downturn.
The pull-out of Japanese companies from F1 began with Honda-backed Super Aguri, who left for financial reasons early last year.
Toyota's exit leaves just three manufacturers in Formula One - Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault.
It also opens the door for BMW-Sauber's new Swiss owners to take their place as the 13th team on the grid.
Toyota signed the concorde agreement earlier this year committing themselves to F1 until at least 2012, so a pullout could also have legal ramifications.
Toyota has forecast an operating loss of 750 billion yen (£5.5bn) on revenues of 16 trillion yen (£120bn). It is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Thursday.
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Comment 127 - 146 of 146
Very sad news indeed.Well shocked.
I'm not sure why drivers are blamed almost exclusively over organizational errors of manufacturers, over management errors, over execution errors, over lack of design talent, over lack of competitive genius guiding a team's efforts. Ralf Schumacher was a multi-race winner in rather doggy Williams cars, had Toyota provided even modestly fast hardware Ralf would have won in it. And in the case of Toyota it is instructional to recall the parting words of Mike Gascoyne who pointed his finger at Toyota's corporate culture which was committee based and which discouraged and finally eliminated individual genius. Great racing teams tend to be fueled and driven by a "Great Man", but Toyota's execution of it's committee racing team model forbade that. They were never going to succeed and it is best they move on. Mario Theissen is probably not "Great" enough to move his team to the top of F1, but his efforts will be far better than Toyota's. Adrian Newey was the genius of Williams' successes, the genius behind McLaren's end of '90s successes, and his genius is likely to propel Red Bull to domination in the coming seasons. Whether it is John Barnard, Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn, or Aryton Senna- that is how it's done, Toyota.
F1 is totally wasting money and not environmental friendly sport.
Nowadays fuel price very high and this sport use a lot of petrol.
I think this sport should be eliminate as soon as possible!
I was really hoping that Toyota would stay in F1!
This news sucks, hopefully the FIA will say that they have to stay in until at-least 2010!
This last season was Toyota's best, so I really don't understand this decision. I know manufactures are hurting for cash right now, but damn couldn't they just get some more sponsors?
#
'I have said that Renault will withdraw before the start of NEXT season, just like Honda. There are still 6 months to go. Plenty of time for them to do a u-turn and pull the plug on F1'.
From Biggles, on Wed 4 Nov 10:32AM
I have just heard on BBC ( so it must be true!) that Renault are having a meeting tomorrow, 5th Nov, to decide their future in F1. They could stay or withdraw completely or just provide engines. If they go, as I still keep suggesting they will, then F1 will have lost their tyres and the last 2 manufacturers in one week.
Despite what a lot of people on this forum think and post it is obvious that Renault have NOT yet decided to remain within F1 otherwise they would not be having the meeting.
Losers.
...Japs mite know something that we dont know! they allmost all out! they mite dont like the idea that Korea its having a f1 or f1 its backing to normal, Ferrari & Maclaren, like always, they (Ferrari n Mercedes) suply eng for all teams, no probs at all, ok and Coswort can show if they r up standards, but if Renault run a way, they should not be aloud to suply engines...
...and Rory Breaker, no champs with out lucky
merit for Buton and Brawn and Honda money in years before...
...im looking forward to Dakar and ofcorse March... :)
hello my f1 maddies, it marnio here from peru.
it is very good that the toyota leave the f1. they make boring cars for the elderly and infirm who are waiting for the next life. toyota will soon go the bankrupt and then the most boring chapter in the automative the history will come to an end. f1 is better without them.
next the renault will leave and the then we will only haver to eliminate the mclaren ruffians, who are owned by the mercedes, and then f1 will be great again.
goodbye the toyota and the good ridrinse, you boring pigs.
TOYOTA SPENT 300 MIL A YEAR AND DIDNT EVEN WIN 1 RACE,JUST LOOK AT WHAT BRAWN HAVE DONE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR,ITS NO WONDER TOYOTA PACKED THEIR BAGS AND WENT HOME..BRAWN MUST HAVE SICKEND UM
shud have stayed rallying..much better sport..cud never understand why they went F!
i do not care if f1 goes under at least the dwarf will be gone to
too much money and to many pomp -arse holes in it
Ferrari are owned by Fiat aint they
Jam jam, that's the new word going around in the pit's, what dose it mean? I will give you the answer in one hours time.
Jam jam, that's the new word going around in the pit's, what dose it mean? I will give you the answer in one hours time.
Scott, fact Brawn bought a car that had a few million yen thrown at it before Brawn had his magic to it. 2nd the sport needs a cap on spending. There a 4 reason why, 1 Honda, 2 BMW, 3 Toyota and possibly 4th as predicted by myself and a few others and reading the BBC F1 sight Renault. These are all big companies that have suffered due the down turn in people buy cars. this means they do not have the funds to spend 300 million to design and go racing when their companies are making great loses. Even major sponsor are pulling out of the sport because of the cost. Even Ferrari can not afford to run a team without the help of their sponsors. If you do not have a cap the cost will spirral out of control and then you would no longer have a sport because no one could afford it.
Brawn........Bumfluff Button with his FLUKE and unearned title will be the "new" Barrichello at Brawn..Nico's whipping boy..
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Ferrfarti.....Alonso will cause no end of trouble at Ferrfarti and Massa is a none starter...
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USF1 ...... U S h it F aggots 1
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Williams... yeah what ever.
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Red bull-cr ap... hahahahaaaa..
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Toyota......ITS ALL OVER !!!!
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Manor Cosworth.... phuuuaaaaaaarrrrrrppppp
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Force India....... phuuuaaaaaaarrrrrrppppp
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Torro Rosso....... phuuuaaaaaaarrrrrrppppp
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Sauber ...... F1's very own deadwood collection.
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Lotus........ Resigned to the history books forever.
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Campos Meta.......Spanish work shy fops.
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Renault........... Lucky to be on the grid at all the French surrender monkey's. (drivers need death wish)
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...McLAREN ..still under FULL control of the great Ron Dennis will have the YOUNGEST EVER WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPION and PROUD Englishman Lewis Hamilton at the front next season ... no matter who gets the other drive..
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== McLAREN WIN 2010 CONSTRUCTORS == HAMILTON WINS 2010 WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP ==
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............... McLAREN TAKE 3rd..........Ferrfarti 4th .......yyyyyyyyyeeeeessssss!!!
++++++++++++++++ POTTER = THICKEST ON F1 SITE +++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++ TOURONROUTE = SAME AS POTTER +++++++++++++++++++
2 things we should all make a noise about.
1. F1 is the pinnicle the top the place people go to see the best. Therefore there should not be a cap at all for anything. Engineering is its best in competition. Take Brawn for example, they brought out a new car with a few tweeks (not taking it away from the drivers). This is the peak sport let them do what they want. Instill safety regs but that should be it. Possibly a cap on cost to make it a bit competative but no more.
2. Why would people pay that price to watch it. Its free on the tele. I know its not the same but if we don't they will have to reduce the cost. If we put it to all the major manufacturers to go out build a sticking hot fast car and race it who could stop them.
The big point here is, if we pay the price they will keep upping it until we choose not to go. If we stifle the competiveness of the teams (same engine, no full slick tyres, no special spoilers, no kerrs???, no enginuity). Why on why do we do it.
F1 Bosses I hope you sleep well, for you are killing what is spose to be the highest level of engineering you can get on a race track.
if lewis hamilon can pick is game up so can toyate can do so
if lewis hamilon can pick is game up so can toyate can do so
if lewis hamilon can pick is game up so can toyate can do so
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