[Sky Sports F1]

Toyota are poised to follow BMW and Honda in pulling out of Formula One, with an official announcement due on Wednesday.

Toyota set to quit F1

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Sky Sports F1

Toyota are poised to follow BMW and Honda in pulling out of Formula One, with an official announcement due on Wednesday.

Toyota set to quit F1

Not much of a surprise here. From what I've read, Japan has the highest corporate tax structure in the world (around 39.5%, US is right behind them at 39.3% - http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/2011.html ) and profits today are hard to come by.

Like any household, when you feel a financial pinch, you quit eating steak at Ruth Criss and shopping at Neiman Marcus, and start grabbing fast food and walking the aisles of Walmart. Maybe they see that participation in F1 is a luxury and that $300 million could be more wisely spent?

[disco stu]

Apparently, it nows looks as though Renault may be on the way out also.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by disco stu

Apparently, it nows looks as though Renault may be on the way out also.

I think we all have seen examples of a store, or a product becoming popular, and then becoming so expensive that no can can afford them anymore and the go out of business. Could we be seeing this in major motor sports? I hate to think the solution is something like Aldi or Walmart; discount-quality auto racing.

[WestCoast]

Don't forget the new Engine rules coming into effect soon. That probably has lots to do with it as well.

F1 could probably afford to loose about 1/2 of it's budget and still be the most expensive form of racing by a long run.