Toyota Threatens To Leave F1

The row between F1 teams and the sport’s governing body, FIA, over budget caps continues to grow, as Toyota has reportedly threatened to withdraw from next year’s championship unless compromises are made.

This comes following a long-running argument between the Formula One Teams Association and the FIA around a cost-reduction scheme that gives teams that voluntarily decrease their budget various technical advantages.

FOTA recently met to further discuss the FIA’s decision to impose a two-tier budget cap system, which will see FOTA Teams complying with the £40m cap allowed greater technical freedom than those preferring to operate under their own budgets, some of which exceed £80m.

Following the meeting, Toyota F1 team president, John Howett, reiterated his team’s opposition the two-tier system, claiming that the scheme is confusing and the budget requirements don’t seem to add up.

While stating that Toyota is in favour of a cost-reduction system, Howett hinted at the possibility that Toyota might leave F1 due to the foreseen budget caps, following in Honda’s recent footsteps, which bowed out of the sport at the end of last year.

Ferrari, another team unhappy about the budget caps, has also been reported to be considering an exit from the sport.

FOTA and FIA president Max Mosley are due to meet to discuss the budget caps issue before the next round of the championship in Monaco later this month.