Sauber have today confirmed their first driver for 2010 – Japanese former Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi.

Kobayashi stood in for an injured Timo Glock at Toyota in the last 2 races of last season to make his F1 debut. He finished 9th and 6th but won himself an instant fanbase due to his aggressive style. Kobayashi has previously won the GP2 Asia Series, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 2.0 Italia. He said:

“Ever since the start of my career I have dreamed of racing in F1. Now this dream has come true. I am very happy that my two races in 2009 have earned me a cockpit place.

“I will do my very best for Peter Sauber’s team and I am proud to be able to carry on flying the Japanese flag in F1.”

Team boss Peter Sauber said:

“I’m very much looking forward to working together with Kamui. In the final two Grand Prix of last season he was granted an unexpected chance to show his skills, and he made impressive use of it.

“Particularly in the Abu Dhabi race he demonstrated not only that he can drive fast and aggressively, but also his ability to successfully implement a strategy. I am convinced he has a great deal of potential and will be able to make the most of it in our team.”

Virgin Racing today made its driver announcement in London, where it was confirmed that Manor have teamed up with Richard Branson’s Virgin brand, and that Lucas di Grassi will drive alongside Timo Glock at the team. di Grassi said:

“I could never imagine a F1 debut as perfect as this one. Entering F1 with John Booth and his crew, the same people with whom I won the 2005 Macau F3 race – one of the greatest successes in my career – is really beyond perfection I should say. And I believe I am ready for F1.

“I have worked a lot during these years to get here and I believe it happened just in time. I always had great expectations about the day I would enter F1, and I should thanks everyone who was with me all these years, and I shall say John and his team are among those very people I consider helped me to get there much before we signed the F1 contract.

“Being here with them makes more sense to me than to be with a veteran organisation. We will debut together, and that detail makes for a special bond too. I guess all that will make me stronger and more confident as I will be among old friends. I am ready to work twenty four seven and I am sure I will be able to contribute with the team efforts in every stage of our evolution in 2010.”

It was also revealed that Lucas di Grassi’s fellow GP2 graduates Alvaro Parente and Luis Razia will take on the role of test drivers with the team.

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.

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.

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.

The German media are suggesting that a deal bringing Timo Glock from Toyota to Renault is 95% done.

Glock has competed in 37 Grands Prix  and has collected 3 podiums across his career with his debut coming in 2004 with Jordan, but he is yet to record a win. He has not participated in the last 2 races and will not start this weekend in Abu Dhabi after a heavy crash at Suzuka.

If Glock signs for Renault he will race alongside Robert Kubica, a deal which has already gone through.

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

Kamui Kobayashi has been confirmed to replace Timo Glock again this weekend for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the Toyota team.

Glock had a medical check up on his damaged ribs yesterday in order to see whether he was fit enough to race, this now appears to not be the case.

Kobayashi impressed last weekend in Brazil where he fought a tough race. John Howett, Team Principal of Toyota admitted that the team are considering him for a race seat in 2010, as they are Glock, Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen.

As previously reported last week, Timo Glock is due for a medical test early this week in order to determine if he will be able to return to racing, and more specifically to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.

When speaking with Glock’s manager Hans Bernd Kamps, he told the DPA news agency that Glock’s chances were “90 per cent”.

Glock will be very keen to get back in the car, what with Toyota now hunting for new drivers next season. That said, Glock’s current race partner Jarno Trulli would be more likely to leave the team than him if one was to stay. Toyota are yet to confirm drivers for either race sat for 2010, with Kimi Raikkonnen also in the frame.

Timo Glock is hopeful of a return to F1 next weekend at Abu Dhabi following a check up and decision next Tuesday (27th Oct). Glock has been out of action since the Japanese Grand Prix where he crashed his Toyota car in difficult conditions. Glock said to Auto Motor und Sport:

“I am getting around normally, I was karting yesterday and that went well without any pain.”

In Brazil, Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi replaced Glock. He impressed many, with Team Principal John Howett stating earlier this week that they would be considering Kobayashi for a seat next season. Glock will be keen to get back in the car if he hopes to minimise Kobayashi’s exposure.

That said, Glock seems calm in the face of the Kobayashi excitement:

“Nothing depends only on these two races. People already know who I am; they are all fair and want you to be physically well. No one is putting me under pressure.”