From GMM
Toyota team president John Howett has confirmed suggestions that Toyota F1 engine boss Luca Marmorini departed because of the Japanese team's policies, as well as the sport's technical restrictions.
Former F1 team boss and owner Giancarlo Minardi recently commented that the sport's "new regulations and the policies" of Toyota "do not leave much room" for Marmorini, who had joined the Cologne based squad from Ferrari at the end of last decade.
Minardi, also an Italian, blamed Marmorini's decision on the "freezing of engines and the lack of prospects for development" in F1 today, and Toyota's "failure to encourage the use of KERS".
Howett confirmed: "I think that he was frustrated on the one hand that there was really no opportunity for engine development, and also probably didn't agree with some of the strategic decisions - probably our more conservative approach to KERS.
"In the end, I think he didn't really want to leave and we didn't want to lose him, but there was still a gap that led to that," the Briton told F1's official website.
Promoted from within, Kazuo Takeuchi is Marmorini's replacement.
"Mr Takeuchi is 100 per cent a motor sport person, who has been involved in the original car programme, the IRL program and NASCAR, so he is an absolute racer," Howett said.
photo:Toyota
Toyota team president John Howett has confirmed suggestions that Toyota F1 engine boss Luca Marmorini departed because of the Japanese team's policies, as well as the sport's technical restrictions.
Former F1 team boss and owner Giancarlo Minardi recently commented that the sport's "new regulations and the policies" of Toyota "do not leave much room" for Marmorini, who had joined the Cologne based squad from Ferrari at the end of last decade.
Minardi, also an Italian, blamed Marmorini's decision on the "freezing of engines and the lack of prospects for development" in F1 today, and Toyota's "failure to encourage the use of KERS".
Howett confirmed: "I think that he was frustrated on the one hand that there was really no opportunity for engine development, and also probably didn't agree with some of the strategic decisions - probably our more conservative approach to KERS.
"In the end, I think he didn't really want to leave and we didn't want to lose him, but there was still a gap that led to that," the Briton told F1's official website.
Promoted from within, Kazuo Takeuchi is Marmorini's replacement.
"Mr Takeuchi is 100 per cent a motor sport person, who has been involved in the original car programme, the IRL program and NASCAR, so he is an absolute racer," Howett said.
photo:Toyota