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Will Toyota still be on the F1 grid in 2010 ?
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Will Toyota Still Be on the F1 Grid in 2010?
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Toyota TF-109 testing in Portimao
In the immediate aftermath of Honda’s F1 withdrawal announcement all the remaining car manufacturers including Toyota confirmed their commitment to Formula One. The December statement from Toyota however had word “currently” placed right next to word “committed”:
“Toyota is currently committed to succeeding in Formula One and to reducing our costs. We are contributing to the FOTA activities which will achieve significant cost reductions whilst maintaining the spirit of the sport. We hope FOTA’s proposals and activities will be given the widespread support they deserve as they provide the sound, stable base Formula One requires at this time.”
That already that time sounded like very carefully crafted statement stating the intent to continue in F1 but at the same time leaving the door open for possible exit. All the talk about other teams disappearing ended (temporarily) following the cost cutting measures agreed on by FIA and FOTA.
Most of the attention has turned to Honda search for new owner of their Formula One team. But then came the launch of Toyota’s 2009 challenger (TF-109) and all the funny talk surrounding it.
John Howett, Jarno Trulli, and Tadashi Yamashina
First Jarno Trulli suggested that a race win in 2009 is necessary for Toyota’s continuing presence in F1:
“Toyota’s message has been very clear: we carry on with F1, however we all have a great responsibility to try to bring home the maiden victory, which could be decisive for the future. We need to do that in order to justify the reason to stay in F1. I won’t say it is vital, but it is very, very important nowadays.”
I admit I expected someone from Toyota to come out and dismiss any doubts about their commitment these words from Jarno Trulli might have created. But instead the team’s president John Howett said pretty much the same
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