Sour grapes?
Any links ? Probably had something to do with Williams engine deal. Berny promised to make Toyota the official engine supplier of F1 ?
confirmed: http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=29009 http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=29010
Oh, I misunderstood! I thought they were pulling out of F1 completely. If there's any relationship they should pull out of, it's their overpriced romance with Ralf.
This does not shock me in any way. Toyota has no intention of cost cutting, they see no need.... Rumor is that most if not all of the teams are really upset with them about their positions on the future of the sport. In other words, they want to be able to spend whatever they see fit. Part of me agrees with them, but part of me sees the success the NFL and NBA have under their salary cap scenarios, and makes me want to see an F1 with similar results. IE: better competition. So I'm clearly in support of all these cost cutting measures. Just as Ferrari is. They must not continue to spend, and spend, and spend. Eventually you'll spend yourself into the grave!
How could Toyota agree to a cost cut now? They haven't achieved anything yet! This is the first or second car manufacturer in the world and they didn't get into F1 for the love of the sport! They want to pump money into their team untill they win and smash the opposition. It's a matter of prestige for them. Honda, which is a smaller Japanese car maker, has already won several championships with William & McLaren, and recently won their 1st GP with their chassis. Toyota don't want to lose face and achieve less than that. The image of Toyota as #1 national car maker in Japan, suffered badly when little Mazda won Le Mans years ago. An other trophy Toyota is now coveting.
I still can't get over them releasing Mike Gascoyne or for that matter Honda releasing Geoff Willis. Money is not a guarantee of anything, look at Renault's budget (50% of Toyota) and what they have managed to do with it.
I've got it from quite reliable sources that they're really rocking the boat on this matter. It's one thing to spend, and quite another to spend twice the operating budget of the number 2 spending team. Toyota is presently spending almost as much as Ferrari and McLaren combined. Think about that for a moment, that works out to almost $1B per year.... Let me plant one more seed.... The very real posibility exists that Toyota was made aware that they were no longer welcome in the GPMA.
I saw this on your link, and got depressed: WEEKLY JOURNAL Features & analysis - 09 Aug Masters Degree: Nigel Mansell Masters Degree: Emerson Fittipaldi In a special series of features, autosport.com talks to the driving masters themselves - about the old days and their love of motor racing It hasn't been THAT long ago, has it ???????????????????
But does it matter right now what they spend ? They could spend a billion a year and not be much closer than they are, so it's wasted money. I know that's not the point, but... Besides, if they (FIA) cut or limit in one area, the teams advance in another.
Look.... Ferrari is F1. The F in F1 stands for Ferrari. Without Ferrari there is no F1! This stupid manufaturers series break away threat is nothing more than just that... a threat with no bite. In the end the collective might and power of Renault, BMW, Daimler Chrysler and HONDA... is still lesser than the poistion of Ferrari. The 4 think that together they have a greater bragaining power in F1. Sure a little better but Ferrari is still master of this house!
FIA is a disaster, pure and simple. I've seen what they did to WRC, I see what they're doing to F1. But a competition series would be just another open wheel venue, not "Formula One". But as much of an F1 fan as I've been, I'm almost hoping F1 goes into Thomas Crapper's invention, ... ... so Ferrari can get back to sports car racing, where they made their name in the first place.
