21/01/2009
NEWS STORY
As his team continued its preparations for the forthcoming season, despite the best efforts of the weather gods, Toyota's John Howett was spelling out the reality of the Cologne-based outfit's situation, it must take a major step forward this year if it is to remain in F1.
True, Toyota finished fifth in last year's Constructors' Championship, its best result since 2005 when it finished fourth, however, Timo Glock's second in Hungary remains the outfit's best race result after seven seasons of racing and countless hundreds of millions of investment.
When Honda announced its decision to quit F1 in December, many thought it was only a matter of time before its great Japanese rival followed suit. Then, when its parent company announced the first trading loss in its history, everyone thought Toyota's F1 team would be the first to suffer… an unnecessary, unsuccessful series of red figures on the balance sheet.
Toyota confounded the sceptics by giving its full backing to the F1 effort, however, speaking at Portimao, Howett warned that in reality his team must make real progress this season or face following Honda out of F1.
"We have a great team of people and I think we just feel we need to win and it is about time we won," he told reporters. "We need a strong season. If we have a weak season we have no future. Whether we really have to win to stay is difficult to stay, but we feel we have to win.
"It is our desire and our passion shared by our people in Cologne," he continued. "We feel we must win, and then we can cement and secure a very bright future in F1."
Although he claims there have been no threats from Japan, no ultimatums, he is aware that Toyota, especially in the current economic climate, can only justify its F1 expenditure for so long.
"I think what I will say is that every team are facing increased scrutiny because of the financial situation, and we are no different from any other. I don't believe that it is cost that has driven certain teams out of their relative sport, it is a holistic view about the value that is delivered for the investment.
"It is quite clear we need to reduce our costs and I am very confident we will do that. And we need to have an extremely strong season to demonstrate to Toyota that we are value to the corporation for the commitment they are and have made to the sport. It is our job as managers and leaders of the team to deliver.
"So yes, we are under scrutiny," he added. It isn't wrong to say that, however, I don't think you should uniquely pull Toyota out from the remainder of the teams. We all need to perform in one way or another."
Team principal Tadashi Yamashina was even more forthright, admitting that the parent company had needed convincing regarding the benefits of remaining in the sport.
"Honestly speaking, we are also struggling to stay in F1," he said. "We discussed lots with the Japanese management, but fortunately Mr. Watanabe convinced the bosses to stay in F1.
"Toyota are doing some cost reduction to get some better performance," he continued, "but we are still alive and, from that sense, this season is very important. Even if the company headquarters had some operational loss, we spend their money to fight to win a race, so it is very, very important for us to win this year."