Do Toyota think their fans are idiots?

On Friday Toyota - whose record as a manufacturer in Formula One is woeful in the context of the money they are spending (thought to be at least $400million a year) - sent Timo out with what may have been little more than a teaspoon of fuel in his car so that he could top the time sheets in the second practice session which he duly did. Then at the end of the session the German driver cruised slowly round the Speedway, the team's home circuit, waving to all and sundry as if he had won pole.

Maybe this is wrong and Timo produced an amazing turn of speed with a proper fuel load on board, inspired by driving in front of the team's home fans. But it seems unlikely given the team's general mid-field mediocrity this season and the weird coincidence that it should happen at Fuji. No one is expecting a Toyota to win the Grand Prix unless rain answers their prayers. So instead we are left with a piece of show-boating presumably aimed at cheering people up. No doubt it was also marketing ploy. But it smacks of condescension and treating their fans, at the very least, in a patronising way.

For the record here are some stats on Toyota's return for the hundreds and hundreds of millions they have spent in Formula One since they started in 2002.

Championships: 0
Race Wins: 0
Races: 119
Poles: 2
Fastest laps: 1
Race distance: 59,814 kms
Laps: 12,369
Laps led: 49
Races led: 7
Podiums: 8
Front row: 5
Points: 209

   

Comments

[Alex]

You would be far better off asking this question of Alonso and Renault, they have been doing it all through the season...... and not just on Fridays, can you remember Alonso's "amazing" performance at Barcelona ? There they screwed up the whole race for the sake of brief posturing.

[Pau]

Does Lewis think Timo is an idiot? His passing manoeuvre in Monza will surely create him problems in the future.

[D]

^
I think you're being a little harsh on them, Ed.

It's their own track: after all they've spent, I don't begrudge them a harmless bit of showboating on a Friday afternoon to cheer themselves up.

Heaven (and Toyota's in-house accountants) only know just how many billion dollars they've poured into a bottomless pit with precious little to show for it but they've been good for Formula One - and Williams would be engineless without them.

So, cut them a little slack on their own front lawn. They're decent guys and they had the courage to speak out against the damage that Mosley's self-serving arrogance do to the world of motor racing.

[SiY]

A little unfair on Toyota, who often put in a fairly good performance in Japan and the final few races (good, at least, compared to how they usually start their seasons).

[Stéphane]

Timo made this lap in a 10-lap series.

So, more then a teaspoon, me thinks.

[Tim]

What Toyota did in second practice has been part of motor racing for a very long time.

Renault did something very similar in qualifying for Spain and it isn't limited solely to manufacturer teams. Smaller teams have been known to pump out some fuel and try to impress potential sponsors with some fast laps. For example, Jean Alesi was very quick for Prost in the run up to the 2001 season but never managed to repeat that form in races.

But perhaps Toyota isn't just pitching to its fans. Ed - you've highlighted the scale of Toyota's investment in F1 and the fairly pathetic set of results it has bought them so far. Perhaps Toyota's board needed a demonstration of progress against a backdrop of falling car sales and stock markets across the world?

[JR]

I think that is too harsh on Toyota, it's their circuit, they have been doing well all the weekend so why not giving their fans a good show on Friday?

Of course the issue didn't passed unnoticed to some to attack... Alonso!

You guys cann't stop attacking him even when he his 46 behind the WC leader... I can't imagine what you will say when he has a competitive car again.

[LAK]

I see it in a different light, let them have their 15 mins. of fame. I think the fans know their real level of performance, and deserve a little boost for remaining loyal to a team that hasn't given them much in return. Toyota owes it to the fans to give them a little something in their home town. With a little left to go, maybe a marketing ploy is all they have within their grasp's reach.

[José Australia]

It is very hard to be a prolific writer and at the same time avoid to make mistakes or say something that does not sound quite right, or seems outright silly.
You have done it now Ed, it's your views, but noone has agreed with you so far and I am totally with D. and the others on this.
Sure Toyota record is unimpressive when you compare with their budget, but do they stop trying?
And so they put a little show to their customers - I wouldn't be surprised if half the public at Fuji drives a Toyota - what's wrong with that? Certainly they enjoyed seeing the car being fastest for the session. Or did they boo?
For many years I supported a soccer team - FC Porto - that languished in our national championships but I surely enjoyed when they won, even if it was against a lesser team or a top team with only 9 or 10 players on field.
But most likely I am stupid.
But Timo... I believe Timo is a very good driver, he quite impressed me when he drove a few races for Jordan and I hope Toyota gets a car that puts him in the top 6 drivers next year because that's where he belongs in my opinion. I pointed out Vettel more than a year ago and I think it to be quite possible that Timo will shine next year, hopefully to the delight of the less stupid Toyota fans.

[Porl]

In your world only McLaren or Ferrari are allowed to top the time sheets. In that case what is the purpose of the rest of the teams? Teams can use the practise sessions as they please -- if you think it is as easy as that to lead a practise session you need to learn a little more about this sport than the 2 or 3 years you have been following it. Usually I respect your opinion, but your Hamilton cheerleading and limited focus on the two front teams is becoming boring.

[Ricardo]

No , I don't think they are idiots.I believe that nobody has taken offence among the toyota fans. Ed, why are you so hard on them? I see a clear improvement particulary with Timo.
Alex I can recall amazing performances by Alonso at saturdays an sundays as well.What about the last two races?Bad karma, eh?