Ralf Schumacher has been letting off a little steam about Toyota after finally getting free of its F1 team. He points out that the company had no interest in employing Ross Brawn, its corporate view not allowing room for individuals who might actually bring about change. And Ralf should know, having spent so long in Toyota's employ, keeping his mouth shut in return for a handsome paycheck.
Mazda 787B Le Mans car
I can't help but wonder whether it was worth all those millions, however. Ralf obviously wants to stay in F1 but is finding now that his Toyota years have just about done for his reputation as a driver. In effect, he was being paid to say nice things about the cars he drove while the company made him look a very ordinary driver indeed. His last chance appears to be that his friend, Vijay Mallya, will give him a seat with the fledgling Force India team; but that in itself is an indication of how far Ralf's stock has fallen. There was a time when he would have laughed at the idea of racing for such a team.
Ralf's problems apart, he is obviously right about Toyota. The company is devoted to its way of doing things and will not bend to the more flexible and inventive requirements of F1. The company's cars are bult on the philosophy that tried and tested is best - and they have an enviable reputation for reliability as a result. But that approach does not work in F1, where innovation and change are the secrets to success.
It is interesting that the racing team should follow the company philosophy so closely, however, and it suggests a principle that we could look at. Do all the manufacturers unconsciously bring their philosophies with them into the sport? Take Renault, for instance; do its F1 cars somehow reflect our perception of its road cars?
Lots of family runabouts, practical cars that do what is expected of them, we think immediately. But that is not all. Take a closer look and you will see some very strange things for a company the size of Renault to be doing. Does anyone remember the Espace model that they stuck their F1 engine into, thereby creating the hairiest SUV known to mankind? And what about all those souped up Clios beloved of the few remaining boy racers on our streets? This is a company that knows where its bread and butter lies but is also in love with invention and speed - not a bad philosophy to go racing with.
And then there's BMW, doing exactly what we expect of them - producing solid, reliable cars that perform well. Nothing too wild there, I grant you, but they'll try things if they promise to improve the product. Mercedes have avoided having to live up to the silver arrows of the past by merely having a close relationship with an existing team. But look at the team they chose: the one with the reputation for smooth efficiency and overpowering success in their good years. That seems to fit nicely with the company's ethos too.
Even Honda, whose F1 engines became synonymous with excellence, were betrayed by their motor bike past this year. Born into bike racing, the company found suddenly that the techniques that brought success there do not translate into F1 wins. But at least they demonstrate the flexibility of an innovative bike company in recognizing where they went wrong and capturing the man who could turn things around for them.
Ferrari are a thing apart, of course. Although largely in the hands of FIAT, they have been an independent manufacturer and race team for so long that they are the image and the philosophy of the company.
So it looks as though car manufacturers do bring their baggage into F1 with them, unfortunately for Toyota. And, if that is so, there is a manufacturer that I would dearly love to see enter the sport. No, not Porsche, although that would be extremely interesting. And not VW/Audi, as so desired by Bernie Ecclestone. The one I'm thinking of is the Japanese manufacturer that really ought to be involved: Mazda.
Small it may be but the Mazda company has more invention in its little finger than Toyota has in its whole body. And it races in other formulae with passion and flair, always willing to try something new and to take on the big boys. The costs of F1 racing will probably always prevent their giving it a go but, were it ever to happen, I reckon Mazda could build a winner.
But I doubt they'd give Ralf a job.
Mazda 787B Le Mans car
I can't help but wonder whether it was worth all those millions, however. Ralf obviously wants to stay in F1 but is finding now that his Toyota years have just about done for his reputation as a driver. In effect, he was being paid to say nice things about the cars he drove while the company made him look a very ordinary driver indeed. His last chance appears to be that his friend, Vijay Mallya, will give him a seat with the fledgling Force India team; but that in itself is an indication of how far Ralf's stock has fallen. There was a time when he would have laughed at the idea of racing for such a team.
Ralf's problems apart, he is obviously right about Toyota. The company is devoted to its way of doing things and will not bend to the more flexible and inventive requirements of F1. The company's cars are bult on the philosophy that tried and tested is best - and they have an enviable reputation for reliability as a result. But that approach does not work in F1, where innovation and change are the secrets to success.
It is interesting that the racing team should follow the company philosophy so closely, however, and it suggests a principle that we could look at. Do all the manufacturers unconsciously bring their philosophies with them into the sport? Take Renault, for instance; do its F1 cars somehow reflect our perception of its road cars?
Lots of family runabouts, practical cars that do what is expected of them, we think immediately. But that is not all. Take a closer look and you will see some very strange things for a company the size of Renault to be doing. Does anyone remember the Espace model that they stuck their F1 engine into, thereby creating the hairiest SUV known to mankind? And what about all those souped up Clios beloved of the few remaining boy racers on our streets? This is a company that knows where its bread and butter lies but is also in love with invention and speed - not a bad philosophy to go racing with.
And then there's BMW, doing exactly what we expect of them - producing solid, reliable cars that perform well. Nothing too wild there, I grant you, but they'll try things if they promise to improve the product. Mercedes have avoided having to live up to the silver arrows of the past by merely having a close relationship with an existing team. But look at the team they chose: the one with the reputation for smooth efficiency and overpowering success in their good years. That seems to fit nicely with the company's ethos too.
Even Honda, whose F1 engines became synonymous with excellence, were betrayed by their motor bike past this year. Born into bike racing, the company found suddenly that the techniques that brought success there do not translate into F1 wins. But at least they demonstrate the flexibility of an innovative bike company in recognizing where they went wrong and capturing the man who could turn things around for them.
Ferrari are a thing apart, of course. Although largely in the hands of FIAT, they have been an independent manufacturer and race team for so long that they are the image and the philosophy of the company.
So it looks as though car manufacturers do bring their baggage into F1 with them, unfortunately for Toyota. And, if that is so, there is a manufacturer that I would dearly love to see enter the sport. No, not Porsche, although that would be extremely interesting. And not VW/Audi, as so desired by Bernie Ecclestone. The one I'm thinking of is the Japanese manufacturer that really ought to be involved: Mazda.
Small it may be but the Mazda company has more invention in its little finger than Toyota has in its whole body. And it races in other formulae with passion and flair, always willing to try something new and to take on the big boys. The costs of F1 racing will probably always prevent their giving it a go but, were it ever to happen, I reckon Mazda could build a winner.
But I doubt they'd give Ralf a job.