Seems to be. From TotalF1
http://www.f1network.net/main/s491/st151273.htm

Another source confirming same news...

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/toyota-out/

Yep this is too bad. I hope USF1 goes after Kobayashi. Sign him now!

http://pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=39520

Maybe Toyota will sell their slot to Sauber for $1 and they can race next year and get FOM money.

edit: So if you signed the Concorde Agreement and you don't show up what are the ramifications?

Any idea if they will be supplying engines? I hate that in the past year we will now have lost 3 engine suppliers. None of us wants a spec series, but with dwindling engine suppliers we are coming closer to that.

Watkins74 - 03 November 2009 07:31 PM

Maybe Toyota will sell their slot to Sauber for $1 and they can race next year and get FOM money.

edit: So if you signed the Concorde Agreement and you don't show up what are the ramifications?

A financial penalty in the millions as I recall.

hellaciouss_craw - 03 November 2009 07:33 PM

Any idea if they will be supplying engines? I hate that in the past year we will now have lost 3 engine suppliers. None of us wants a spec series, but with dwindling engine suppliers we are coming closer to that.

Not likely. Williams has already gone to Cosworth. Which was a tip-off that they were leaving.

Honda, Toyota and Bridgestone gone, I hope someone will stop the bleeding when it hits Europe.

it's a board meeting. usually it was the 15th of november, now it's the 8th. Just more speculation from magazines and newspapers. Didn't we hear this 4 months ago? Where are their sources? So they know Toyota is having a meeting about their F1 project a week early. Maybe that's a sign to get a better driver.

It could be like this... 'Hey here's the budget early. It's a little less than what weve been spending, but you need to make cutbacks. I know we need to sign driver(s) to go along with Kobayashi. This is what he are allowing you to spend.'

No one knows what they will say so lets wait till they confirm or deny they are exiting. My guess is they are trying to cut back like every team is and if they have a budget sooner they can make those cuts.

No source for the information, but yet 2 days ago we were hearing that Kobayashi would be in the car for next year. It's two different managements. But I doubt they wanna give up when this years car wasn't that bad. Get a better driver and some of the guys from BMW's engine department combined with Toyota's reliability. Might make for a good engine package.

Please don't go though Toyota. Don't make this another Honda to Brawn repeat.

If it is true it seems like Toyota has a choice of 2 ways to go since they (as in the F1 team) signed the concorde.

They can withdraw the team entirely, pay any penalties hidden in the concorde and deal with their factory as to the employees future employment. German labor laws figure in here. This would open the door for Sauber.

The other route is to sell the team because it does have a grid spot, the future of the factory and the employees would then be off their hands. In today's climate they might not get great value for the team but it would be painless. This leaves Sauber still on the outside looking in unless they decide to take on the problem of a duplicate facility. Doubtful.

TF109B - 03 November 2009 07:44 PM

it's a board meeting. usually it was the 15th of november, now it's the 8th. Just more speculation from magazines and newspapers. Didn't we hear this 4 months ago? Where are their sources? So they know Toyota is having a meeting about their F1 project a week early. Maybe that's a sign to get a better driver.

It could be like this... 'Hey here's the budget early. It's a little less than what weve been spending, but you need to make cutbacks. I know we need to sign driver(s) to go along with Kobayashi. This is what he are allowing you to spend.'

No one knows what they will say so lets wait till they confirm or deny they are exiting. My guess is they are trying to cut back like every team is and if they have a budget sooner they can make those cuts.

No source for the information, but yet 2 days ago we were hearing that Kobayashi would be in the car for next year. It's two different managements. But I doubt they wanna give up when this years car wasn't that bad. Get a better driver and some of the guys from BMW's engine department combined with Toyota's reliability. Might make for a good engine package.

Please don't go though Toyota. Don't make this another Honda to Brawn repeat.

While I'm not one to believe everything I hear until it is confirmed, one thing I have learned about F1 is that if a rumor persists for more than a week, it generally comes true in the end.

As for them saying Kobayashi will be in the car next year, it's simple. Toyota F1 has no idea what is going to happen, as far as they are concerned they will be racing next year until told otherwise. The decision will come from Toyota's board.