20/06/2004
NEWS STORY
The story suggesting that Microsoft could become Toyota's primary sponsor, first run by pitpass last month, is hitting the headlines once again.
An article in Germany's Bild am Sonntag claims that Microsoft boss Bill Gates is looking to tie-up a $40m sponsorship deal with the Japanese F1 team.
The article further claims that Toyota is looking to secure a major deal with Sony, though this would surely cause conflict with current sponsor Panasonic.
Finally, the article claims that Toyota will use the British Grand Prix as the opportunity to announce that it has signed Ralf Schumacher in a five-year deal, rumoured to be worth $100.
Other than the fact that at $100m one has to wonder whether this a late April Fool joke, wouldn't it be better that Toyota announce any such deal in Germany two weeks later, seeing as the team is based in Cologne and the event will be Ralf's home race?