2013 Formula One Discussion

[Edi96]

Glock wasn't deemed good enough for Toyota after 2009 - they didn't want to retain him even before they pulled the plug

That's not true. Toyota decided not to take up the option on his contract when the intends of the parent company to pull the plug at the end of the season became clear. It had nothing to do with his performance.

[phil1993]

Glock wasn't deemed good enough for Toyota after 2009 - they didn't want to retain him even before they pulled the plug

That's not true. Toyota decided not to take up the option on his contract when the intends of the parent company to pull the plug at the end of the season became clear. It had nothing to do with his performance.

Autosport believe otherwise...

[kals]

And you believe Autosport?

[Edi96]

Glock wasn't deemed good enough for Toyota after 2009 - they didn't want to retain him even before they pulled the plug

That's not true. Toyota decided not to take up the option on his contract when the intends of the parent company to pull the plug at the end of the season became clear. It had nothing to do with his performance.

Autosport believe otherwise...

They are wrong. auto motor und sport reported in May 2009 that Toyota has already decided to pull out of F1. Trulli had no contract for 2010 and the team wanted to replace him (maybe with Kobayashi?) but they wanted to retain Glock (according to John Howett in August 2009). The team was still hoping that Toyota would change their decision, therefore they put everything about contracts on hold. They told Glock that they would not take up the option when the situation became hopeless (September 2009).

[mikhailv]

I thought they were going for Glock/Kobayashi. I know they were disillusioned with Trulli and vice versa; cant say I blame Trulli; Toyota threw so much money away for zero.

[kals]

Toyota threw more money at Ralf Schumacher and what did he deliver? Trulli was only brought to the team because of Mike Gascoyne.

Glock was important to Toyota, who needed a German driver to fulfill their desired obligations in the German marketspace.

[mikhailv]

Toyota threw more money at Ralf Schumacher and what did he deliver? Trulli was only brought to the team because of Mike Gascoyne.

Glock was important to Toyota, who needed a German driver to fulfill their desired obligations in the German marketspace.

Problem toyota had was that Trulli was the best drive Toyota had. he got results most.

But i think partially Toyota left because Honda left.

[Edi96]

Toyota threw more money at Ralf Schumacher and what did he deliver? Trulli was only brought to the team because of Mike Gascoyne.

Glock was important to Toyota, who needed a German driver to fulfill their desired obligations in the German marketspace.

Toyata did not need a German driver. Germany is not and never will be a perfect market for Toyota as we have enough own car companies. Glock was the best driver available (GP2 Champion) after Ralf's perfomance got worse and worse. Honestly, Ralf Schumacher was an incredible waste of money.

[kals]

I agree, Ralf was a waste of money. But Germany was important for Toyota. Germany may have not needed Toyota, but Toyota saw a major market opportunity in Germany. Hence they set up in Germany and hired German.

[Edi96]

Toyota Motorsport is based in Cologne, Germany since 1979. Moreover, they spent their first three seasons without a German driver. Afterwards they hired Ralf because he was a multiple Grand Prix winner and out of contract for 2005. When Ralf disappointed, the current GP2 champion was the best driver available. There was no board decision due to which Toyota must have a German driver. They only supported Japanese drivers like Nakajima.

[kals]

The main reason why they spent the first three seasons without a German driver was the leading drivers were contracted elsewhere... Ralf with Williams and Michael with Ferrari. Heidfeld was still a growing driver, was under contract with Sauber and wasn't in a position to lead a team.

As soon as Ralf became available Toyota snapped him up.

[Edi96]

They could have signed Frentzen after he had to leave Jordan and Heidfeld was available in 2004. Sorry, you are just wrong in this case.

[mikhailv]

http://www.salmonllc.com/sofiaExamples/ ... 6D343?ID=6

[kals]

Frentzen retired at the end of 2003 and when he was fired by Jordan in 2001 Toyota were still building the team with Salo and McNish doing all the development work. Considering their pace in all the tests they did throughout 2001 they were not an attractive proposition for many drivers. McNish and Salo were originally signed for 2001 and 2002 seasons, but were fired after the first year. Panis and Da Matta were contracted through to the end of 2004.

I've been trying to find information to back up my understanding, this is all I can find - http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/28/sport ... d3__4.html. The article explains how important the German market was to F1 back in the early mid-2000's but it doesn't explicitly imply anything about Toyota wanting German drivers.

So, after all these years I may well be wrong.

[mikhailv]

Frentzen retired at the end of 2003 and when he was fired by Jordan in 2001 Toyota were still building the team with Salo and McNish doing all the development work. Considering their pace in all the tests they did throughout 2001 they were not an attractive proposition for many drivers. McNish and Salo were originally signed for 2001 and 2002 seasons, but were fired after the first year. Panis and Da Matta were contracted through to the end of 2004.

I've been trying to find information to back up my understanding, this is all I can find - http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/28/sport ... d3__4.html. The article explains how important the German market was to F1 back in the early mid-2000's but it doesn't explicitly imply anything about Toyota wanting German drivers.

So, after all these years I may well be wrong.

I thought Frentzen didnt want to goto toyota, so left. Thats why they took Mcnish and Salo for 02 in which both were not resigned after year 1, signed Panis in 03 and signed Da matta who was a winner in champcar with toyota, they stayed in 2004 only for test driver Zonta to replace Da matta who was then replaced by Trulli after his falling out with Briatore.

Panis retired and Ralf was picked up hence Trulli/Ralf were the main drivers, with Zonta replacing ralf when he was ill at the USGP of 2005. He was replaced at the end of 07 because of his poor performances, and the fact he was paid more than every driver bar Raikkonen in 2007.But I always thought they saw Germany as a key market.