Toyota's F1 future in doubt

Toyota’s F1 boss John Howett has cast doubt over the Japanese manufacturer’s future in Formula One after claiming the team’s budget for 2010 had yet to be confirmed.

Howett said Toyota’s F1 team had submitted its budget next year to its parent car company but no decision was likely to be announced until November.

“I am honestly expecting severe pressure on budget,” said Howett. “We have submitted the budget and because of the economic situation, the Toyota group wants to wait for the full half year of the current financial year [before signing it off].”

Toyota has theoretically committed itself to sport until the end of 2012 by signing a revised Concorde Agreement.

Italian driver Jarno Trulli, who races for the Toyota team, has also cast doubt over its future by claiming another manufacturer would pull out of the sport.

“In this economic crisis, nothing is sure,” he said.

“If you look back over the last year it is a disaster. Honda has pulled out, BMW has pulled out, and probably they will not be the only ones.

“I think you can expect anything. Nothing is sure at the moment, because there are plenty of things which have happened and from one day to another the situation changes.”

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