Theissen to ‘discuss’ 2010 vacancy with FIA
The collapse of a confirmed team for 2010 opens the door for the newly Qadbak-owned outfit in the wake of BMW's departure.
"We will be discussing the effect (of Toyota's departure) for the BMW-Sauber team with the FIA," team boss Mario Theissen is quoted as saying by the news agency SID.
However, Wednesday's turn of events is potentially devastating for the hundreds of people who work at Toyota's Cologne base.
"Of course it's really bad for the 600 people who work there," said Sebastian Vettel at the Race of Champions event in Beijing, according to Bild newspaper.
"The question is what happens now with them? I hope that an investor turns up who can buy the team," the German driver added.
Selling the team was mentioned as an option earlier on Wednesday, but it is believed that John Howett has played down that possibility.
Instead, Toyota Motorsport GmbH could live on with another project for the Japanese manufacturer; perhaps Le Mans.
"Toyota Motor Corporation will race in various categories," the carmaker said without elaborating.
10/29/09 (GMM) Mario Theissen insists he is still not ready to make a decision about his future.
The 57-year-old German's career at BMW dates back to the late 70s, and he has overseen the carmaker's formula one and motor racing activities for more than a decade.
But with BMW deciding to withdraw from F1 after Sunday's Abu Dhabi grand prix, Theissen has left open the possibility that he might stay on board at the Swiss BMW-Sauber team, which has been bought by the Qadbak consortium.
He told the German news agency SID: "I have always said that I will make a decision after the current season. Nothing has changed."
Theissen believes that BMW is not likely to make a swift return to formula one.
"When a company changes its strategic decision then this is always of some duration. You can't change strategy from one day to another.
"To say anything more would be speculation," he added.