Bye bye Toyota...

[Fio1]

Toyota are done with F1. Not surprising considering the economy, slow car sales, lack of results and that Honda already quit. I feel bad for Kobayashi, I hope someone picks him up; he was a lot of fun to watch these last two races.

To be honest, I have no idea why Toyota entered F1 in the first place, winning Le Mans would have done them a lot more and would have cost so much less. I really can't associate a Prius with F1....I didn't buy a 2008 Highlander 2-years ago because Toyota have an F1 team, even though I believe $1,000 of that purchase price went to the F1 project.

[cameraman]

Well Peter Sauber now has a slot for his team:rolleyes:

Glass half full and all:shakehead

[Rogue Leader]

But wait... How will Jarno Trulli be able to qualify on outside poll and then **** up everyones race?

[rosawendel]

But wait... How will Jarno Trulli be able to qualify on outside poll and then **** up everyones race?

it's okay, he still has photos and data.

[mueber]

Can't say I'm surprised.

I've always been suspicious of the idea the auto racing sells cars, especially when the auto racing costs hundreds of millions a year. But when things are going well, "managers" invent things to spend the shareholders' money on.

[Hard Driver]

Well, it is funny that a few years ago everyone was worried about the manufacturers ruining F1 and all the privateers being driven out.

Now it looks like the privateers will be the savior of F1.

[Easy]

The specialist teams will always be the backbone of F1. I for one am glad the manufacturer era is over. I would rather see 26 cars with some turnover than 20 cars that are half from faceless corporate monoliths.

Renault called an emergency board meeting today. Maybe Lola's decision to press on with building the 2010 car wasn't such a bad idea. I'd also bet Epsilon Euskadi is getting ready to step up if one of the newbies falters.

[pchall]

If Bernie and Max could only get the aero regs right it could fix F1. The days when anybody with a decent facility could buy a competitive engine from Coventry-Climax and then Cosworth and put it in their own chassis or a customer car produced good grids and great racing. And you could always root for the major manufacturer entries since they were always likely to be beaten by a kit car prepared in the tractor barn on somebody's farm.



Well, it is funny that a few years ago everyone was worried about the manufacturers ruining F1 and all the privateers being driven out.

Now it looks like the privateers will be the savior of F1.

[Lux Interior]

Toyota under-delivered considering their budget and the resources they have.

I think they should have stuck it out, because they would have got it right eventually. Look at Red Bull - they had a legitimate shot and that was the crappy old Jaguar team.

I'm still looking forward to a 26 car grid and more independent teams. I like F1 without the giant manufacturers and more teams like Williams and Red Bull out there.

Wonder where Timo will end up?

[cameraman]

The Scuderia vents its annoyance


We want a different closing chapter

Maranello, 4 November 2009 - It seems like a parody of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians", published in England for the first time in the year 1939, but reality is much more serious. Formula 1 continues loosing important parts: over the last 12 months Honda, BMW, Bridgestone and this morning Toyota announced their retirements. In exchange, if one could call it that, Manor, Lotus (because of the team of Colin Chapman, Jim Clark and Ayrton Senna, to name a few, there is hardly more than the name), USF1 and Campos Meta arrived. You might say "same-same", because it is enough if there are participants. But that's not entirely true and then we've got to see if next year we'll be really as many in Bahrain for the first starting grid of the 2010 season and how many will make it to the end of the season.

In reality the steady trickle of desertion is more the result of a war against the big car manufacturers by those who managed the sport, than the effects of the economical that affected Formula 1 over the last years. In Christie's detective novel the guilty person is only discovered when everybody else is dead, one after the other. Do we want to wait until this happens or should we write Formula 1's book with a different closing chapter?

It probably reads better in Italian...

[TravelGal]

Can't say I'm surprised.

I've always been suspicious of the idea the auto racing sells cars, especially when the auto racing costs hundreds of millions a year. But when things are going well, "managers" invent things to spend the shareholders' money on.

I think the larger plan was the racing develops cars. Back in the day when they made use of that old-fashioned idea of Innovation.

Besides, Toyota only joined because Honda was there. Once Honda left, no reason for the toy autos to stay to keep face.


Toyota under-delivered considering their budget and the resources they have.

I think they should have stuck it out, because they would have got it right eventually. Look at Red Bull - they had a legitimate shot and that was the crappy old Jaguar team.

I'm still looking forward to a 26 car grid and more independent teams. I like F1 without the giant manufacturers and more teams like Williams and Red Bull out there.

Wonder where Timo will end up?

In rehab? MEDICAL rehab, you guys! Agreed about Toyota, except that they are really hurting this year. A bit of overexpansion on their part. Their #1 goal was to be the biggest. They did it but at quite a cost. Literally.

[oddlycalm]

It would have been a lot harder decision if they had many wins or a constructors title to their credit. As it is they have naught to show for the $ billions spent.

Racing does indeed sell cars but in order to impress you need to post results. Just showing up and being a perennial also ran doesn't optimize the investment.

I don't think we'll see the Japanese back in F1 for a very long time after Honda and Toyota both failed so resoundingly. Their approach may work for road cars but they proved they can't do F1 well.

oc

[cameraman]

Racing does indeed sell cars

Okay...

Avalon
Camry
Corolla
Matrix
Prius
Solara
Venza
Yaris

or even is, ls, es, gs or any other anonymous two letter designation Lexus:saywhat:

So tell me exactly how having an F1 team would sell me one of those cars?

McLaren I can see, not Toyota.

[Sean Malone]

Okay...

Avalon
Camry
Corolla
Matrix
Prius
Solara
Venza
Yaris

or even is, ls, es, gs or any other anonymous two letter designation Lexus:saywhat:

So tell me exactly how having an F1 team would sell me one of those cars?

McLaren I can see, not Toyota.

A global marque entered into a global racing series. Brand loyalty. Pretty simple stuff.

[oddlycalm]

A global marque entered into a global racing series. Brand loyalty. Pretty simple stuff.
There's that, as well as the normal win on Sunday sell on Monday aspirations (which require that you actually win). In Toyota's case they also needed to spice up their image. Selling what amount to transportation appliances to people that don't care about cars is hard mold to break out of. Even concrete salesmen don't want to drive a Toyota...;)

As it is they barely made a ripple in F1. Three pole positions, 13 podium finishes, and a best result of fourth in the 2005 constructors' standings to show for its 139 grands prix over seven years. Not bad if you're a tiny privateer team but considering they spent around $4 billion it's not much of a surprise to see them re-thinking their participation. Massive loss of face, almost as bad as Honda's. The only thing that could make it worse is if they sell the team and it wins the WDC and constructors title in 2010...:laugh:

oc

[Indy]

A global marque entered into a global racing series. Brand loyalty. Pretty simple stuff.

How many people who care about the top level of racing drive a Toyota or a Honda because of it? Their cars are appliances, nothing for an enthusiast to be excited about. And on top of that they are completely humiliated by their European competitors. If anything, they have killed any hope of being seen as sports car producers in Europe, and, to some extent, North America.

I would seriously consider buying a Mercedes because of the competence they have demonstrated in F1. Toyota and Honda? Laughingstocks.

[Sean Malone]

How many people who care about the top level of racing drive a Toyota or a Honda because of it? Their cars are appliances, nothing for an enthusiast to be excited about. And on top of that they are completely humiliated by their European competitors. If anything, they have killed any hope of being seen as sports car producers in Europe, and, to some extent, North America.

I would seriously consider buying a Mercedes because of the competence they have demonstrated in F1. Toyota and Honda? Laughingstocks.

BS.

[cameraman]

An F1 team doesn't make a dimes worth of difference to people who are shopping for a Yaris. 99.9% of the people buying Toyotas & Hondas do not care about the F1 teams and I'd wager that the vast majority of them are not even aware of either F1 program.

My son wore a perfect copy of the McLaren driver's suit for Halloween (quite cool actually and extremely high quality). He has worn it for half a dozen days now. During all that time one person identified it as a Formula 1 suit and he asked if he was dressed up as Michael Schumacher:rolleyes:. The suit has Mercedes Benz written across the back and McLaren Mercedes down the legs and people kept asking what number he is in reference to Nascar:shakehead The most common questions were "What is a Vodafone?" & "Who is Santander?":saywhat:

F1 participation doesn't sell a damn thing in this country.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii35/Cynops/Liamracer.jpg

[Fio1]

You know what would be funny, if whom ever buys/ takes over the Toyota F1 operation wins the 2010 F1 title? Na, that can never happen....:rofl:

[Sean Malone]

F1 participation doesn't sell a damn thing in this country.


You changed the game. :) Cute kid BTW.

[datachicane]

F1 participation doesn't sell a damn thing in this country.


Well, to be fair, you do live in Utah.
:gomer:

Cute kid, nice score with the suit.

[Steve99]

During all that time one person identified it as a Formula 1 suit and he asked if he was dressed up as Michael Schumacher:rolleyes:.
Well, Vodaphone did use to be a Ferrari sponsor, so I'll give them half credit. :)


The most common questions were "What is a Vodafone?" & "Who is Santander?":saywhat:

Even as a big F1 fan, I've had to ask that question myself.

[opinionated ow]

Well, Vodaphone did use to be a Ferrari sponsor, so I'll give them half credit. :)

Even as a big F1 fan, I've had to ask that question myself.

Vodafone isn't in the USA?

[dando]

Duped.

[dando]

Vodafone isn't in the USA?

Not directly, but Verizon is an affiliate of Voda. Whatever that means.

-Kevin

[opinionated ow]

Not directly, but Verizon is an affiliate of Voda. Whatever that means.

-Kevin

I think it means they carry Vodafone calls when a vodafone customer uses their international mobile in the USA. I have to admit I'm surprised that Vodafone haven't invaded North America; they're all over the Caribbean, Europe, Oceania, Asia and Africa.

[extramundane]

Not directly, but Verizon is an affiliate of Voda. Whatever that means.

-Kevin

Voda owns 45% of Verizon wireless.

[Indy]

BS.

In what way?