Toyota, despite the rumors, does not want to leave F1!
Tadashi Yamashina had stated not long ago that Toyota could quickly leave F1 if the team’s results did not improve within two years. The Japanese team described the rumors about its possible withdrawal from the F1 world as “malicious alarmism.” John Howett, president of Toyota Motorsport, the team director, thus stated that the rumors remained […]
Tadashi Yamashina had stated not long ago that Toyota could quickly leave F1 if the team’s results did not improve within two years. The Japanese team described the rumors about its possible withdrawal from the F1 world as “malicious alarmism.”
John Howett, president of Toyota Motorsport, the team director, thus stated that the rumors remained just rumors and that the team had no intention of leaving the world of Formula 1 in the short term.
« In Barcelona in 2006, we first signed a non-binding agreement with the other manufacturers to commit to staying in F1 at least until 2012, » commented Howett, as quoted in the British magazine Autosport.
Howett, however, admitted that the team’s performance was being closely monitored by Toyota’s management, which could therefore decide to allocate more or less budget to the team according to its strategy.
Indeed, the team still hasn’t won a single Grand Prix since its debut in 2002. It finished in sixth place in the constructors’ standings in 2007, with only 13 points, but the whole team remains reassuring. 2008 will be the year of awakening.
