Toyota supporting Super Aguri entry

Speculation has linked Toyota to Midland F1's opposition to the team because Midland use Toyota engines and Super Aguri are supported by rival Japanese manufacturer, Honda.

But Toyota Racing president John Howett made it clear on Wednesday that his team will fully support Suzuki's entry.

He said: "In response to speculation suggesting that Panasonic Toyota Racing opposes the Super Aguri team's Formula One entry, we are fully supportive of new teams competing in Grand Prix racing, which is something we have always made clear.

"Toyota Motorsport have signed indicating their position and we have made that clear to the Midland F1 team."

Super Aguri did not appear on the F1 entry list because they were late lodging the required $48 million bond with the FIA.

Super Aguri Managing Director Daniele Audetto told autosport.com: "Basically the bond money was late because of a misunderstanding caused by the tough money-laundering legislation that is now in place.

"Missing the entry deadline means that we now need the unanimous approval of all teams, which is causing us a problem."

Although Midland F1 have so far been singled out as the main team not supporting the entry, high level sources have claimed that there is also opposition from Ferrari and Williams to Suzuki's entry.

Neither Ferrari nor Williams have confirmed their disapproval.

Speculation that World Champions Renault are also being obstructive are wide of the mark, according to Audetto.

"At first, Flavio Briatore told me that we didn't want a shit team in F1," Audetto explained.  "So he sent Pat Symonds (Renault's director of engineering) round to Leafield to have a look and I think Pat was quite impressed.

"Charlie Whiting has also been to the factory and I think he is satisfied with what we showed him and told him. We have had Mark Preston involved at Technical Working Group meetings and we have had representation at team principals' meetings, so at the moment we are part of the circus, but we are not."

Audetto said that he hoped the opposition from the teams blocking his squad's entry would be overcome, but he acknowledged the likely concerns from MF1 Racing about losing television rights revenue and travel subsidies.

"I'm sure that's the case," Audetto said, "but it doesn't make a lot of sense because a new team is not eligible for money for two years anyway. On top of that, F1 is basically designed to work with 12 teams.

"Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone are still being supportive of a late entry route and hopefully common sense will prevail. We have good support from Fuji TV, a lot of people behind Takuma Sato and Japanese sponsors.

"But it seems that not everyone is looking at sport. Some are looking to their own pockets."