Toyota's F1 team chief has admitted the Japanese manufacturer might yet decide to pull out of Formula 1 at the end of the year.
There have been a series of rumors about the Toyota Motor Corporation's wavering commitment to the sport this year, partly due to its continuing lack of success despite massive budgets for its Cologne, Germany-based operation, but primarily because of the parent company's need to cut costs in light of the global economic recession.
Toyota's F1 team boss Tadashi Yamashina said the cost of competing remains an issue. "We need to turn it into an F1 where you don't need so much money," he said at a news conference in Tokyo ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix. "We will participate for now – we have to consider a variety of things in relation to our core business. Our participation is unclear, depending on our financial results."
Toyota's Timo Glock finished a strong second last weekend in Singapore – his first podium finish of the season. However, his contract is up at the end of the year and he has admitted to keeping his options open.
"For me, it's not an easy situation," said Glock. "You have to look at what options you could have if it goes wrong. But hopefully, everything goes as we planned it and I can stay at Toyota."