Toyota exit shifts F1 balance of power
Toyota's decision to quit Formula 1 is the latest in a series of high-profile exits by the world's biggest car companies - but it will almost certainly be the last, at least for a while.
Toyota follows Honda and BMW as the third manufacturer to pull out of the sport in the space of 11 months. But the three left in - Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault - all seem to be secure for the foreseeable future.
Certainly, no-one has any doubts about Mercedes and Ferrari.
Mercedes, which owns 40% of the McLaren team, is in the process of expanding and strengthening its commitment. It is currently deciding whether to take a controlling interest in the championship-winning Brawn team - perhaps as much as 75%, although that would probably mean Mercedes divesting itself of its shareholding in McLaren.
Ferrari, who are owned by Fiat, have been in grand prix racing since the 1920s - and are the only team to have raced in F1 every year since the inception of the world championship in 1950. And, historically, the car company was born out of the race team, not the other way around.
As far as Renault goes, there have been doubts this year about its commitment. During F1's summer of political discontent, the French company were mentioned by Max Mosley, the former president of F1's governing body the FIA, as one of three manufacturers likely to pull out - the other two being Toyota and BMW.
But in the wake of the Singapore race-fixing scandal, Renault's bosses confirmed to the FIA that they would remain in F1 in 2010.
And further indication of its commitment came in the signing last month of the highly rated Polish driver Robert Kubica. They are expected to announce imminently - perhaps as early as Thursday - that the German former Toyota driver Timo Glock will be in the other car.
Toyota, by contrast, might have been making noises about wanting Kimi Raikkonen or Kubica for 2010, but they were conspicuous by their lack of signings.
The love affair has blown hot and cold, but Formula One has had me in its spell for most of my life. After 16 years covering the sport, in which I have reported from more than 100 Grands Prix, I am as thrilled by its heights, fascinated by its complexities and exasperated by its idiosyncrasies as ever. I hope there will be plenty of all of them to share with you now F1 is back on the BBC. You can also follow me on
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