Again?

[rffp]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79111

How many times have Toyota denied that will not fold at the end of the season?
Is any one keeping a score? I think it is the fifth or sixth, must be some kind of record.

[Popi_Larrauri]

It's a matter of giving an answer that belong to another question.

The answer to the question is "Yes, we are a total failure six time in a row considering the enormous amount of money we had poured into this nice builiding in Kohln.

[Captain Hammer]

How many times have Toyota denied that will not fold at the end of the season?
Is any one keeping a score? I think it is the fifth or sixth, must be some kind of record.

They're denying it because as soon as it was annouced that they were not taking up Glock's opton, everyone pounced on it as proof that they were withdrawing. Then Reuters stared putting out fire with gasoline by picking up a story in a Japense newspaper that misquoted John Howett.

[Popi_Larrauri]

How many times have Toyota denied that will not fold at the end of the season?
Is any one keeping a score? I think it is the fifth or sixth, must be some kind of record.

They're denying it because as soon as it was annouced that they were not taking up Glock's opton, everyone pounced on it as proof that they were withdrawing. Then Reuters stared putting out fire with gasoline by picking up a story in a Japense newspaper that misquoted John Howett.

But if would had been any other team the question would have been: Why did you drop Timo?

And the answer to that question shouldn't be: We are NOT leaving money-laund... errr.... F1!

[Captain Hammer]

But if would had been any other team the question would have been: Why did you drop Timo?

And the answer to that question shouldn't be: We are NOT leaving money-laund... errr.... F1!

They're dropping him because they want a star driver or two and they don't think Glock is doing enough. Before Singapore, the team's previous podium had been in Bahrain.

[Popi_Larrauri]

But if would had been any other team the question would have been: Why did you drop Timo?

And the answer to that question shouldn't be: We are NOT leaving money-laund... errr.... F1!

They're dropping him because they want a star driver or two and they don't think Glock is doing enough. Before Singapore, the team's previous podium had been in Bahrain.

Don't you see? That's the answer any other team should have ginven.

[watka]

Even if Toyota got, say, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen as drivers next year, they still wouldn't win a race. They tried that with Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher and look what happened.

[DonTirri]

Even if Toyota got, say, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen as drivers next year, they still wouldn't win a race. They tried that with Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher and look what happened.

Eh, i know Button has a severe case of Mansellitis (only champ-material in the absolutely best car) and Räikkönen isn't regarded that highly but... Putting the two of them on the same line wtih Trulli-Train and Lil'Scummy is just WRONG.

[Klon]

Even if Toyota got, say, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen as drivers next year, they still wouldn't win a race. They tried that with Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher and look what happened.

Eh, i know Button has a severe case of Mansellitis (only champ-material in the absolutely best car) and Räikkönen isn't regarded that highly but... Putting the two of them on the same line wtih Trulli-Train and Lil'Scummy is just WRONG.

Yes, I highly agree, comparing Jenson Button to Ralf Schumacher is an insult to the skills of the latter.
Well, I think, that Toyota doesn't need world championship winning drivers, they need a world championship winning management, were the Japanese main company can't butt in. Or they take a completely different approach and move the factory from Cologne to Japan itself. Either way, they need a more direct management with the option to be spontaneous to react to fast changes, which take place in F1 more than just once a season.

[eytl]

Well, I think, that Toyota doesn't need world championship winning drivers, they need a world championship winning management, were the Japanese main company can't butt in. Or they take a completely different approach and move the factory from Cologne to Japan itself. Either way, they need a more direct management with the option to be spontaneous to react to fast changes, which take place in F1 more than just once a season.

Agree. And technical staff who can also react quickly to development trends, understand what does and doesn't work for their package, and adjust accordingly. Toyota have generally been directionlessness technically throughout the course of a season, and this year is no exception.

[Winterspring]

Even if Toyota got, say, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen as drivers next year, they still wouldn't win a race. They tried that with Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher and look what happened.

I miss Ralf, I wish he can come back but ever since Indy 2004, he was never the same driver. Maybe they (Toyota) need to start completely fresh with the team and profile like a revamp similar to Williams in 2000/01 and Renault in 2003.

[Ulfuls]

Well, I think, that Toyota doesn't need world championship winning drivers, they need a world championship winning management, were the Japanese main company can't butt in. Or they take a completely different approach and move the factory from Cologne to Japan itself. Either way, they need a more direct management with the option to be spontaneous to react to fast changes, which take place in F1 more than just once a season.

Agree. And technical staff who can also react quickly to development trends, understand what does and doesn't work for their package, and adjust accordingly. Toyota have generally been directionlessness technically throughout the course of a season, and this year is no exception.

Agree. For those of you who are unfortunate enough to be Toronto Maple Leafs fans, they need a general manager who is free to make his own decisions without meddling or uncalled-for short term thinking (in the case of the Leaf suits) or uncalled-for long-term thinking (in the case of the Toyota board). Sticking with the Leafs analogy, they probably can't spend enough to attract top-flight drivers right now, and they would have difficulty attracting any in any case (see Raikkonen, K. and Kubica, R.) But just as the Leafs can't spend over the salary cap to attract talent, but can blow their brains out on coaches, scouts and managers, Toyota would probably be better served by working with the drivers they can get, but hire some top-flight young team management. A la Christian Horner (who, I realise, is younger than me, dammit. As was Ross Brawn when he designed the Arrows A10. Ah well.)

[Yannick]

Agree. And technical staff who can also react quickly to development trends, understand what does and doesn't work for their package, and adjust accordingly. Toyota have generally been directionlessness technically throughout the course of a season, and this year is no exception.

As Brawn / Honda have shown, a restructuring of the organisation of a team takes about 2 years to come to fruition because it's only then that the restructured team gets to race the first car they have built by themselves - as opposed to the one that the "old" organisation of the team has constructed.

If I recall correctly, Toyota started something like this at the beginning of 08. So next year, they will have to show what they got. I hope that they keep Glock because he has proven to be a good development driver and race driver. (He must work on his qualifying speed, though.) I have no idea on who they should partner him with, but I respect their decision that it won't be Trulli. Hey, with his current salary talks still ongoing, it could even turn out to be Button. Now that would be cool

Toyota who used to have near unlimited resources, are probably the one team suffering the most from the ban on in-season testing.