Trulli all set for Toyota exit

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Toyota F1 president John Howett has dropped another hint that Jarno Trulli's days at the team are numbered.

Trulli joined Toyota in 2005, however, almost five full seasons down the line and he has yet to win a grand prix.

And with Toyota's F1 future on the line, the team is desperate to produce the results that will convince company bosses in Japan to carry on in the sport.

But should Toyota continue, which Howett believes they will, it does not appear as if Trulli is part of their future plans.

"You have to look over five years," said Howett. "I don't wish to be tough but we had a more competitive position leading the start of Spa, and we didn't deliver.

"So I think you have to respect the fact - and I am not trying to knock Jarno, because he is a great person and what he does for the earthquake victims... there are so many strong qualities.

"But still unfortunately as a team this sport is intensely competitive and we have to find the best opportunity to win."

The Italian, though, did finish on the podium at the previous race in Japan, a feat that Howett admits will help secure Toyota's future at least.

"It always helps, doesn't it? But I can't say that it is really the fundamental issue," he added.

"I think it is still all down to Toyota's overall profit and loss situation and the image of Formula 1 and whether we can get away from the rather sordid side that we've had recently to a much more dynamic future looking at all the great things that this sport really has.

"Talking to my colleagues, it's a similar problem everywhere. That's the biggest challenge we face."

Toyota hoping speculation will end

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Toyota Motorsport boss John Howett feels his team's commitment to Formula One will end speculation regarding their future.

Toyota have long been rumoured, along with BMW Sauber and Renault, to be quitting F1 at the end of this season due to the spiralling costs, and the global crisis surrounding the car industry.

But Toyota on Friday joined eight other current F1 teams in lodging a block entry to compete in 2010, and beyond, through to 2012.

Toyota, along with Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso, Brawn GP and Force India, have provided a firm undertaking to sign up for another three years - with conditions.

"It is Toyota's sincere wish to be part of Formula One in 2010, and the conditions attached to our entry, if agreed, would enable us to commit to the sport until the end of 2012," confirmed Howett.

"As explained in the FOTA statement, our entry is conditional upon the specific conditions which have been outlined being satisfied.

"We are optimistic we can work productively with the Federation to build a solid foundation for the future of Formula One, based on lasting stability and sound governance."

The Formula One Teams' Association are demanding the basis of the 2010 regulations be this year's rules.

In essence it means there would be no voluntary £40million budget cap as originally stipulated by FIA president Max Mosley.

As FOTA stated, they have "unanimously agreed further and significant actions to substantially reduce the costs of competing in the championship in the next three years".

They feel that would "create a mechanism that will preserve the technological competition and the sporting challenge and, at the same time, facilitate the entry in the championship for new teams".

What FOTA are saying is Mosley's fear the sport would lose further teams following Honda's departure in December has effectively been negated.

Mosley has 10 teams - Williams signed up unconditionally on Monday - who have vowed to compete in a FIA-run F1 championship over the next three years, during which time they will continue to work on reducing costs to an acceptable level.

The second proviso is that all parties - the teams, FIA and Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management - sign a new Concorde Agreement before June 12.

The Agreement is a binding regulatory and commercial protocol which has governed the sport for the previous 25 years.

In this case it would include the re-formation of the F1 Commission which would see the FIA and teams working together on regulations.

Mosley's governance, and his unilateral imposition of the rules without consulting the teams, has been at the core of the war that has raged these past few weeks.

As FOTA added: "The renewal of the Concorde Agreement will provide security for the future of the sport by binding all parties in a formal relationship that will ensure stability via sound governance."

There are still bridges to be crossed, but the ball is now firmly in Mosley's court.

Toyota commit to F1 with new car

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Toyota reiterated their commitment to Formula One as their 2009 car made its debut in an online launch ceremony.

In keeping with Ferrari's model, the first to be unveiled earlier this week, the Toyota TF109 incorporates a host of modifications to meet new rules.

"We have to win a race, that's clear," said team president John Howett. "This organisation only exists to win."

Driver Jarno Trulli said Toyota were "better prepared than ever" and "ready to face the fight for 2009".

The Toyota Motor Corporation, which backs the team, forecast an annual loss of £1.1bn in December, prompting speculation that the Japanese manufacturer could follow the lead of compatriots Honda and quit the sport.

But the team once again underlined their determination to remain in F1 as the TF109 was presented to the public.

"We know what's going on with the economy, especially the automotive section, and Formula One is part of that even if it's a high-profile sport," Trulli told BBC Sport.

"F1 has been increasing development and cost for many years, and now it's time to step back. I agree with what they're doing.

"For the first time I can see all the teams working together with common sense to survive. The teams more than anyone else understand what's going on in F1, and today the message we are giving is that we are committed to Formula One."

Trulli said Toyota would remain in the sport "if there is a reason to stay, which means being one of the top teams" and added that he expected 2009 to be a "key season for everybody".

Trulli finished ninth in the 2008 drivers' championship, with team-mate Timo Glock 10th, leaving Toyota fifth in the race for the constructors' title - a position on which the team will want to improve this year
New 2009 regulations have forced modifications which lower and widen the front wing, with a tall, narrow rear wing.

Slick, untreaded tyres will also be reintroduced after 11 years on grooved tyres, and teams have the option of employing a kinetic energy recovery system (Kers).

The Kers system stores energy that would otherwise be wasted as heat during braking, then reapplies it during acceleration to provide a boost in power, controlled from the cockpit by the driver.

"We've got Kers developed and in the car," said Trulli. "Soon we'll run it but we don't know if we will start the season with it or not.

"Kers is very complicated and has no application at all with road cars, it's not like the one Toyota use on road cars.

"It might cause a lot of trouble in an F1 car in terms of reliability, and that might cause a question mark. But that's a problem for everyone."

Toyota commits to F1 despite loss

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Toyota has vowed to continue running its Formula One team despite forecasting an annual loss of £1.1bn.

Following Honda's shock departure from the sport in December because of the global economic crisis, it had been feared Toyota could follow suit.

But Toyota Motor Corporation president Katsuaki Watanabe insisted: "We will continue F1 and other motorsport activities while cutting costs.

"To keep [spending] up at the current level is extremely difficult."

Japan's biggest carmaker announced on Monday that it was bracing itself for its first annual loss in 71 years because of plummeting sales and a surge in the value of the yen.

Watanabe added: "The change in the world economy is of a magnitude that comes once every hundred years.

"We are facing an unprecedented emergency."

But Toyota, who made their F1 debut in 2002, insist they do not plan to follow fellow Japanese teams Honda, Subaru and Suzuki out of motorsport.

Honda, which spent more than £300m a year on F1, withdrew from the sport on 5 December blaming the contraction of the global economy.

Last week Subaru, whose cars are made by Fuji Heavy Industries, and Suzuki pulled out of the World Rally Championships for the same reason.

Toyota plans to continue operating in F1 though warned the team would have to scale back costs.

This month F1's teams and the governing body, the FIA, agreed key cost-cutting measures for the next two seasons to help guarantee the future of the sport.

Those measures include doubling engine life, reducing engine revs and cutting the cost of engines to independent teams.

Toyota field youngster Caldarelli at Bahrain test

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Toyota have brought the curtain down on their 2008 testing programme by introducing a new face behind the wheel of the TF108. Italian youngster Andrea Caldarelli, a member of Toyota’s young driver programme since 2007, enjoyed his first official Formula One outing during the team’s three-day test at Bahrain this week.

Caldarelli, who hails from Pescara, the same Italian city as Toyota race driver Jarno Trulli, completed 128 laps over Monday and Tuesday, and ended with a best lap of 1m 33.170s. Last season he raced in both the Formula Renault West European Championship and Eurocup.

“This has been a great experience for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” he said “To get the chance to test a Formula One car when I am still only 18 is such a good opportunity and I was determined to make the most of it. Obviously the TF108 is a big step up compared to my usual car; the power is amazing but so are the brakes, and the grip you have going round corners takes a few laps to adjust to.

"I think I did a good job considering the circuit is new to me and this is my first full Formula One test. I would like to say thank you to Toyota for giving me the chance to test the TF108. This experience gives me extra motivation to fight as hard as possible to one day race a Formula One car.”

Timo Glock was also in action in Bahrain, continuing the team's 2009 preparations. Glock not only analysed Bridgestone's new slick tyres in conjunction with a low-downforce aerodynamic configuration, but tested a new gearbox and evaluated some mechanical devices to advance the team's KERS development. Toyota expect to run their complete KERS system for the first time in January.

Glock covered 258 laps during his three days in the car and clocked a best time of 1m 32.090s. Third driver Kamui Kobayashi, who took over Caldarelli’s TF108 on Wednesday, completed 33 laps to use up the final kilometres of the team's 2008 testing allowance.

Toyota to launch TF109 in mid januvary

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Toyota will launch the new TF109 and its race livery on 15 January 2009. However, as part of the team’s commitment to cutting costs in Formula One racing, there will be no traditional launch ceremony.

Instead, all press material will be distributed to the media via the internet, before the TF109 begins pre-season testing on 20 January, the start of a three-day test at the new Algarve Motor Park in Portugal.

This will be the first opportunity for the media to discuss the TF109 and the 2009 season with drivers Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli, as well as selected team personnel.

Toyota

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Toyota is now the world's biggest car marker and for the first time it appears it might be edging closer to realising its ambition in Formula One.

Years of underachievement since Toyota made its debut in 2002 have left the impression that Japanese management principles did not fit with F1.

But there have been signs this year that Toyota might be finally getting to grips with the sport.

A couple of strong podiums through the summer have hinted at progress at last.


Nationality: Japanese
Drivers:
Jarno Trulli (Ita)
Timo Glock (Ger)
Engine: Toyota V8
Tyres:Bridgestone
F1 history: 2002-
2007 position: 6th
Drivers' titles: 0
Constructors' titles: 0
Team principal: Tadashi Yamashina