I think the news that Toyota is to pull out of F1 isn’t actually that suprising. Japanese culture is big on fighting spirit. To give up is frowned on. Therefore, Toyota’s F1 operation, which has always been big on investment but short on racing savvy, must have been a big disappointment to the firm. No matter who they fired, hired, or how much money they spent, they could not seem to get much further up the pecking order than occasional podium scorer. Their points per £ ratio (or should that be points per £billion) must make for sobering reading!
Much like Honda at this time last year, they will have been secretly looking for an exit strategy, and the worldwide recession gives them the perfect opportunity. Mind, at least they gave it a final go in 2009, rather than giving up straight away like Honda did (although I’m sure Messers Brawn and Button have no problem with how it turned out!). One big difference between the two was the effect of corporate management. In Honda’s case, management realised the Honda “way” wasn’t working and they needed someone to instill and manage a true F1 culture – cue Ross Brawn. Toyota however, blindly continued with the Toyota “way”, firing anyone who got too big for their boots and questioned the strategy’s effect on the team’s success (Mike Gascoyne). All the Toyota “way” ensured was mid-field mediocrity. Not what is required in the dog-eat dog world of Formula One.
Driver’s were often blamed; Rightly I think in the case of Ralf Schumacher, but very wrongly in the case of Mika Salo, Allan McNish, Olivier Panis and Christiano Da Matta. Jarno Trulli, though sometimes only a journeyman, has largely done a good job, and Timo Glock has quietly done a very good job. It’s a shame that when the team eventually finds a fighter and a talent to boost the team (Kamui Kobayashi), they shut their doors!
As usual its mis-management from Japan with decisions coming to conservatively, too late.
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Bridgestone’s withdrawal from F1 as sole tyre manufacturer is much more of a surprise, but completely understandable. In a single tyre era, Bridgestone may win every race but any comments about their product could be taken as negative (how many times have we heard “tyre issues” causing underperformance for teams in ’09), however unintended that may be. Bridgestone pay a lot to provide this service and why bother when all you get is bad publicity and the best you can hope for is not to be mentioned for another victory? I don’t blame them at all.
Any chances Goodyear could return to F1? If not then who will take up the challenge? The mind boggles!
