The FIA says it seeking “urgent clarification” from Toyota about its legal obligations under the Concorde Agreement, following the Japanese manufacturer’s sudden withdrawal from Formula 1.
Toyota’s F1 outfit joined all the other current teams bar BMW Sauber in signing the new Concorde deal in the summer, which committed them to participate in the sport until 2012.
But the team’s parent company the Toyota Motor Corporation announced on Wednesday that it was quitting F1 with immediate effect because the sport no longer suited its medium-term business strategy in the depressed economic climate.
While its departure leaves a spare entry on the 2010 grid that could be filled by BMW Sauber – which currently only has a reserve slot following BMW’s handover of the team to investment group Qadback – the FIA says it needs to establish the nature of Toyota’s commitment before it can admit a new 13th team.
“Urgent clarification is now being sought from the Toyota F1 team as to its legal position in relation to the championship,” it said in a statement.
“This will have a direct bearing on the admission of any future 13th entry.”
The governing body admitted it was also concerned by Bridgestone’s announcement on Monday that it would pull out of the sport when its current contract expires in 2010, but said the tyre company had at least given it enough notice to find a new supplier for F1.
“The announcements this week by Toyota and Bridgestone of their withdrawal from Formula 1 are of concern to the FIA,” said the statement.
“Bridgestone has given almost 18 months’ notice of its intentions, thereby allowing the necessary arrangements to be made for the future supply of tyres to the championship.
“Toyota’s decision, however, comes just weeks after its F1 team signed the new Concorde Agreement until 2012.”
The FIA claimed Toyota’s decision to pull out of F1 for financial reasons vindicated its determination to radically reduce the costs of competing in the sport and to encourage the participation of more independent teams.
The governing body’s former president Max Mosley had pushed for the adoption of a formal budget cap, but resistance from the Formula One Teams’ Association meant he ultimately extracted only a “resource restriction agreement” committing the teams to reduce spending to early 1990s levels on an undisclosed timescale.
The FIA said Toyota’s demise showed that Mosley’s original instincts had been right, and added that it would be keeping up the pressure on the teams to reduce their spending.
“The FIA has repeatedly warned that motor sport cannot outpace the world economic crisis,” it said.
“That is why the competing teams have been asked to cut costs and the entry of independent teams has been encouraged.
“The FIA accepted the cost-reduction measures put forward by the teams on the basis that they would ensure a long-term commitment to the championship.
“Toyota’s announcement demonstrates the importance of the original cost-reduction measures set out by the FIA.
“The FIA will now work to ensure that Toyota’s departure is managed in the best interests of the championship and will continue to encourage the F1 teams to undertake the necessary cost-cutting measures for the good of the sport.”