Toyota boss warns against standard engines

In the wake of wild rumours that Toyota were poised to pull out of Grand Prix racing within two years in favour of a Le Mans programme because they were unhappy about the future rules direction, Howett has insisted that the Japanese car manufacturer are wholly committed to remaining in F1 for now.

However, he warns the situation may change if the FIA presses ahead with its plans to introduce a standard engine from 2010

The FIA issued a statement on Monday saying that it was proceeding with the standard engine plans, having received a number of enquiries from interested parties about the tender. Autosport.com understands, however, that FOTA members have all agreed not to apply for the supply deal.

"Generally we are assuming we are here until at least 2012," Howett told autosport.com. "The ambition is to win and continue the contribution, if you like, to Formula One. The issue is we don't want a standard engine.

"If it is forced through, then it (quitting) is not a decision we will take here, it will be taken by the board in Japan, but they want a degree of differentiation between teams."

When asked what he believed would happen if the FIA's standard engine plans went through, Howett said: "I think you will see manufacturers potentially leaving F1 if there is a standard engine.

"I don't think any of the manufacturers want a homogenized engine. I think the outcome depends partially on the FIA and the World Motor Sport Council, and whether they have a mind to press through with the idea."

Although the fight over standard engines is viewed as a key battle ground in the cost cuts discussions between the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA), Howett says that the priority for the sport's competitors - especially Toyota - is in shoring up the future.

"Our role is to win in F1 - that is what we are trying to do," Howett said about Toyota's vision for the future. "As a member of FOTA we would like to see a stable platform for F1, where we have for all of us a clear and stable vision for the future.

"We seem to move from one crisis to another, and that is part of the reason why FOTA was established. We want a degree of stability for all of us, and we are contributing actively as a member of FOTA by compromising on what we want in the future."

FOTA are due to hold further talks in Brazil this week to try and agree on further cost cutting measures - including a reduction in testing and the move to more standard parts - that could avert the threat of a standard engine.

Howett said that he believes proposals being put together by teams, who met twice in China prior to last week's FOTA meeting with FIA president Max Mosley, were enough to make the cost cuts that the FIA are so keen to see through.

"It is not for me to comment about the FIA and what comes from our talks, but from my involvement with FOTA through Toyota, and in my role as vice chairman, I believe there is a genuine intent and spirit from the teams to make things work," he said.

"Everybody made big compromises in Shanghai, which is encouraging from all sides. I even got some very positive comments from the independent teams talking about the willingness of the manufacturer teams to help. The ideas (we came up with) gave them a significant cost-saving balance."

Howett also said that suggestions Toyota were considering a switch to Le Mans at the expense of their F1 programme were wide of the mark, with comments from team principal Tadashi Yamashina having been taken out of context.

"Toyota have never hidden from the fact that they are interested in returning to Le Mans," explained Howett.

"That is the answer you will get if you ask any Toyota executive - just as they did not hide from the fact that there was an interest to enter NASCAR. But as to whether it (Le Mans) is the right time now. It (Yamashina's comments) have been quoted out of context and misused in recent articles."