Formula One Racing: What Is Toyota's Problem?

When Toyota entered the foray of Formula One racing in 2002, they were probably expecting that more money invested equalled more points for the team.

 No doubt that Toyota is the biggest automobile manufacturer in the world and will thus have money to spend on its fledgling Formula One enterprise, but how much money will get them that much coveted win and championship?

As of the end of the 2007 season, with six race drivers since 2002, Toyota have scored a meagre 163 points, their most profitable being 2005 with 88 points.

Is Toyota using the wrong philosophy? Is there possibly TOO MUCH money going into the team?

The exact amount is not disclosed, but Toyota have literally spent billions of dollars on their F1 program and haven't received that win yet.

It is of my belief that Toyota are thinking of Formula One in the same way that they think of their regular road cars. They are a manufacturer of cars, the largest in the world. However, in Formula One, you don't manufacture race cars. This is best said by Izo Yamura in the 1966 film Grand Prix that "race cars are not another product. They require great attention if any success is to be hoped for." For Toyota, the car is a product, and that seems to be showing in their racing program by throwing money at it. In Formula One, along with money, you require great attention, something that Toyota does not appear to be doing.

Sadly, with their billion dollar budget, Toyota can not, and will not be able to produce a race win until they get their act together nor will they realize that money alone does not equal a race win or complete reliability. They need to put attention on the car's weaknesses, something that just does not seem to be showing. In the end though, I do wish them the best of luck in the upcoming season and I hope that their fortunes turn around, but I doubt that with this philosophy of just money equalling wins, they will get that win.