With just over 1 week until the first Grand Prix race of the 2010 season in Bahrain, we thought it’s be a nice idea to summarise what’s happened between Jenson Button’s 2009 Championship win, and now.

Teams

Shortly after the end of the 2009 season, Japanese team Toyota announced that they would no longer take part in Formula One due to financial reasons. This left drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock without a drive. Previous to this, BMW Sauber had also announced that they were also pulling out of F1 due to BMW not wanting to take part, again leaving drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica looking for jobs.

Sauber however managed to salvage the team, bringing it to F1 in 2010 – Although the team lost both drivers in the process, as well as the BMW Engine. Sauber are still registered as BMW Sauber, despite the lack of BMW – choosing to use a Ferrari engine instead.

Constructers champions Brawn GP were also bought out by German car manufacturer Mercedes, renaming the team Mercedes GP. Ross Brawn stays in his position as Team Principal.

4 new teams were billed to join the 2010 season, Virgin Racing, Campos (Now HRT Racing), US F1, and Lotus. US F1 recently announced that they are pulling out of the 2010 season, being unable to complete their development programme in time, and now focussing on a 2011 entry. It is understood that Stefan GP attempted to take the remaining slot on the F1 grid, however the FIA rejected their entry based on the time before the first race (some 2 weeks).

Drivers

The first major scalp in the driver juggle was Kimi Raikkonen. Mid 2009 season Ferrari announced that Renault driver Fernando Alonso would be joining the team, leaving Raikkonen without a 2009 race seat. Raikkonen was understood to only want a seat in one of two available cars, the Brawn or McLaren – however neither deal was made (likely due to the high price Raikkonen was commanding) and Raikkonen left F1 (albeit maybe temporarily).

The second biggest shock of the driver reshuffle was the move of 2009 championship winner Jenson Button over to McLaren. He joins the 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton for an all British line-up. Widely seen as a risky move, time will tell if this change was a good one for Button.

The final big news was the announcement of Michael Schumacher to the Mercedes GP team. Schumacher returns out of retirement for 3 years to lead an all German lineup with Nico Rosberg as his partner. Schumacher originally planned an F1 return in 2009 when Felipe Massa pulled out after an accident, however was unable to due to suffering a neck injury after a motorbike accident.

Remaining driver positions can be seen in our Guide to 2010 driver lineups.

Important Rule Changes

• Refuelling has been banned during the race. Drivers will only be able to pitstop with problems and tyre changes.
• The top ten drivers to qualify for the race must start the race on the same set of tyres that quaified with.
• A new points system is now in place (see here)
• KERS, although not banned by the FIA, will not be used by FOTA teams in 2010.
• A Grand Prix can now take upto 26 cars.
• Wheel covers are banned on all cars.
• Front tyres have been slightly narrowed in comparison to rear tyres
• No testing rules have been slightly amended to allow any backup drivers 1 day of testing on a circuit not part of the 2010 season in order to prepare them for racing.

Circuit Changes

British GP track Donington pulled out of hosting the 2010 GP, and any future ones after they could not secure the funding for the endeavour. After weeks of speculation, and the chance of no British Grand Prix on the timetable, an agreement was placed between F1 Administration and Silverstone to host the British GP for the next 17 years.

The Canadian Grand Prix will return in 2010. Fuji Speedway was also due to host the 2010 Japanese GP, however track owners Toyota pulled out of this as well, leaving Suzuka to continue holding the race.

Finally, South Korea will host its first GP at the Korean International Circuit in the latter part of the season.

Manor GP have announced that ex-Toyota driver Timo Glock will drive for the team in 2010.

Glock, who drove recently injured his rib cage missing the final 3 Grand Prix of 2009 has signed a 2 year deal with Manor, with the option for a third season on agreement from both parties.

Glock recently became available on the drivers market after his team Toyota pulled out of Formula 1.

More Soon.

If there were any dreams that the Toyota team may yet again rise from the ashes and “do a Brawn”, they have been quickly dashed as ex-Team Principal John Howett has confirmed that the team is not for sale. It appears that the option to put the team up for sale has,

“…already been discussed and rejected. Maybe these ideas can be reopened but, at the moment, it would appear not”

Assumingly by Toyota’s corporate management. This leaves existing employees and drivers in little doubt that they should be looking for new jobs in 2010. Timo Glock is rumoured to be looking at a Renault seat, whilst Jarno Trulli seems sure to be going to Lotus to fill their “experienced” driver expectations.

Fill-in driver Kamui Kobayashi remains the final question mark of the three, and arguably the most interesting after having an excellent final 2 races of the season filling in for injured Glock. Kobayashi previously said he’d love a Lotus seat, but that seems unlikely.

Recently unemployed Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi has expressed his interest in taking a seat with upcoming team Lotus F1 in 2010. Kobayashi, who impressed many in the F1 paddock in the final 2 races of the 2009 season when replacing injured Timo Glock, was linked with a permanent drive with Toyota. That was, until they suddenly quit the sport earlier this week.

Kobayashi spoke with TheF1Times, telling them,

“Obviously my seat there is gone, I was close to signing the contract for that season only, but with four new teams, and a couple of current ones with no confirmed drivers, there are options, but to the current teams, I am a ‘risk’, which isn’t very good for my morale really”

This would suggest Kobayashi and his management team have already had discussions with some of the key players in the paddock, not very successful ones. On Lotus specifically Kobayashi said,

“I do believe I’ll get a seat, if I had to choose a team, I’d choose Lotus. The name is enough really… I think for me, my options are the four new teams really.”

Whilst Kobayashi may be eyeing up a Lotus seat, he’ll likely find it a little difficult after Mike Gascoyne of Lotus F1 recently said that the team were focussed on experienced drivers only, specifically stating “We are not looking for pay drivers or new drivers”, of which Kobayashi is clearly the latter.

That said, his ex team Toyota are doing all they can to try and secure him, and his fellow Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima a race seat for 2010, since Nakajima has also lost out after being replaced by Williams test driver Nico Hulkenberg.

Kobayashi also recently revealed that if it all falls through in his F1 bid, he’ll be back to making sushi in his father’s restaurant. Our view: not the best way for a talented Formula One driver to spend the rest of his days!

For more information on the Formula 1 driver lineup for 2010, check out our Ultimate Guide.

Jarno Trulli is slowly emerging as a clear favourite to sit in a race seat for Lotus F1 in the 2010 season. Trulli recently became unemployed when his current team Toyota, pulled out of the sport due to economic reasons. Speaking with Autosport recently, Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne told them on Trulli,

“He is one of the guys we would like to. Jarno has, over one lap, always been sensational. That is even more important in a new team because you need to know where you are on a Saturday. Jarno can always give you that.”

Gascoyne had previously stated that they’re aim is to get 2 drivers in the car with experience under their belt,

“We are not looking for pay drivers or new drivers. We think that is very important for the team”

With the team having a lot to learn about their brand new car when they finally get it on the track, the best they need is real, solid, experienced feedback from the drivers, something a rookie is unlikely to give them.

With a number of other experienced drivers currently on the market due to the departure of BMW Sauber as well this season, Lotus could easily find 2 highly qualified drivers for their outfit – if they can afford them.

In news that probably isn’t all that surprising this morning, Japanese car firm Toyota have confirmed that they will no longer take part in Formula One racing due to posting its worst ever financial loss. The world’s largest car manufacturer is leaving the sport to concentrate on its core business and to cut costs.

Rumours had been gently spreading over the past few weeks that the team were to possibly leave F1. Earlier last week Williams announced that they were no longer to use Toyota engines which some point out as one of the causing factors.

Last night @f1scoop found an article reported by Japanese newspaper Mainichi Daily News that the Toyota board have decided to pull out of Formula 1. A translation of the news article can be found here. To quote the article:

“Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s greatest motor racing, Formula One (F1) has decided to withdraw as far as this year.”

The announcement was made at 0800 hrs GMT today, 1700 local time.

This now leaves an empty slot on the grid for a team next year, which will likely mean the ex BMW Sauber team will be able to join in the the 2010 season after all. This also leaves Toyota drivers Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock and the impressive Kamui Kobayashi out of a job.

Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi has said that when he was driving in GP2 earlier this season, prior to covering for Timo Glock in a F1 Toyota race seat, he no longer had any money to race in the F1 feeder series and almost went to work in his father’s sushi restaurant, until the lucky break of an F1 drive following a bad crash from the German, Timo Glock.

Kobayashi has impressed in his 2 F1 races ending this season, finishing 9th and 6th respectively prompting strong rumours that he will be offered a Toyota race seat for 2010, a rumour strengthened by the Toyota F1 boss saying that he was impressed with Kobayshi.

The 23 year old Japanese driver Kobayshi said:

“I have no budget, no budget. So I cannot drive GP2 next year. I would probably go back to Japan to maybe work with my father in his sushi restaurant.”

“It was like that two months ago, seriously. When I was 16 years old I worked there, making sushi.”

Toyota Motorsport President John Howett praised Kobayashi for his fighting spirit, but Kobayashi wondered what the fuss was about.

“I don’t need to be worried for me because it is not the Mafia.”

“I have tried to be a Toyota driver for next year but I didn’t know how much I could show before. I just had to do the best at each moment and it seems to have finally worked well.”

“Still I have many things to do. I have to improve qualifying and I need time. But the last two weeks have been quite good for me.”

Note: This article has been updated – please see last section.

It is being reported that Toyota have set November 8th as the day they will announce the future of the team. Previously it had been believed that the team would wait until their board meeting in mid November before any announcements would be made, however for whatever reason this has now been brought forward.

The future of the team has been in question for many weeks, with the team under performing throughout the tail end of the season. Toyota wouldn’t be the first casualty either of the big car manufacturer pull outs from Formula 1, with Honda and BMW already out of the game due to the world financial crisis.

Current drivers are also unconfirmed for 2010 seats, with Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli seemingly about to fly the nest, with the Toyota team looking for fresh blood such as the promising Kamui Kobayashi. Team boss John Howett has been positive however, keen to sign new drivers – even looking at the expensive Kimi Raikkonen.

If Toyota were to leave the sport this would free up a space on the grid for another team, which would work out quite nicely for the ex BMW Sauber team, who currently have new owners, but no grid places in 2010.

Update 03/11/09 19:15

It is being reported by Japanese newspaper Mainichi Daily News that the Toyota board have decided to pull out of Formula 1. A translation of the news article can be found here reported by @f1scoop. To quote the article:

“Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s greatest motor racing, Formula One (F1) has decided to withdraw as far as this year.”

According to the article, Toyota will now make announcement tomorrow (4th November) to confirm this news.

Update 04/11/09 08:15

Toyota have confirmed they will not take part any further in Formula One… Read More.

For more information on the Formula 1 driver lineup for 2010, check out our Ultimate Guide.

After another impressive race standing in for injured Timo Glock, Kamui Kobayashi has made such an impact on his team Toyota that they can no longer argue that he will likely get a seat within the team in 2010. John Howett, Team Principal spoke with Autosport after Kobayashi’s 6th place result, and they asked him if Kobayashi will get one of the drives next season,

“It looks like it. We will have to give really serious consideration, as he has really shown very good strong results. I am very impressed. We were very happy again. What we like is his real fighting spirit. He is not intimidated by anybody. It’s very positive.”

This follows last week’s comments from Howett where he was previously impressed by Kobayashi’s abilities during the Brazilian Grand Prix. Toyota are believed to be looking at a number of drivers for 2010, including Heikki Kovalainen and Adrian Sutil – and of course, their existing drivers Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli.

It is rumoured that the team will announce their plans in late November.

For more information on the Formula 1 driver lineup for 2010, check out our Ultimate Guide.

Lewis Hamilton will line up alongside Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel for tomorrow’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit after setting an electrifying lap in Q3, more than 0.5secs faster than the rest of the field.

Hamilton set a 1:40.948 after the chequered flag had dropped in Q3 compared to Vettel’s 1:41.615. The fellow Red Bull driver Mark Webber will line up 3^rd alongside Rubens Barrichello and World Champion Jenson Button will start 5^th.

Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen will start 13^th, despite topping Friday Practice 2, although this is because he suffered a brake problem in Q2.

Elsewhere it was a reasonably impressive qualifying session in BMW Sauber’s last ever Grand Prix with Kubica and Heidfeld making it an all BMW 4^th row. They qualified 7^th and 8^th respectively.

Ferrari had another nightmare with Giancarlo Fisichella in particular, who will start last on the grid and Kimi Raikkonen who will start an average 11^th on the grid.

It was a disappointing session for Renault as both of their drivers failed to get through Q1. In twice former world champion Fernando Alonso’s final qualifying for Renault he qualified 16^th. His teammate Romain Grosjean will start 19^th.

The full classification is below.