Q+A with John Howett, President15.01.2009

What are the team’s goals for next season?

The goal for me is clear: we want to win our first race. To put ourselves in the best possible position to fight for our first victory, we need to be consistently challenging for the podium and scoring big points regularly.

Is the team ready to win?

We are hungry to win and ready to win, there should be no doubt about that. The new regulations pose an extra challenge but at the same time offer an opportunity. We have everything we need to win; we have some exceptionally talented people and huge motivation to succeed so now it is down to us to actually make it happen.

How would you characterise Panasonic Toyota Racing going into its eighth season of F1?

I believe we are stronger than ever heading into the 2009 season. We have learned a tremendous amount over the past seven years and that has helped us become a more cohesive and consolidated team. Obviously we are much more experienced now compared to the team’s early years in Formula 1 and that means we have an ever-expanding database of knowledge to give us a better understanding of what drives track performance. We are also a team which is constantly striving to improve in every area; this organisation is hungry to win.

Is it good for Toyota to have a major regulation change?

I believe the risks and opportunities associated with a major regulation change are the same for every team. There are no excuses; we have the chance to turn our potential into success if we do our job properly. But that is broadly the same every season. Overall I think the regulation change has a neutral affect when it comes to who succeeds and who doesn’t.

Are you happy with the driver line-up?

We are very happy with both Jarno and Timo because they provide an ideal balance of experience and youth. It was very satisfying to see a strong spirit of co-operation between them last season and there is no doubt that played a part in driving our performance forward. We have two very quick drivers who proved clearly last year that they can qualify well, race hard, defend strongly and overtake, so we were delighted with their performances. In addition, they are fun to work with so that makes life easier for everybody.

From a commercial sense, how secure is the team’s future?

Commercially this team has a very strong future. The key issue is whether Formula 1 continues to deliver the value and return on investment that Toyota expects. If it remains the pinnacle of motorsport and a genuine technological challenge, then I can see a long and bright future for the team. If the sport is dumbed down too much, or too many standard components are forced into the system, Formula 1 could become just another racing series. That would leave it as only a sponsorship opportunity and I believe interest would drop rapidly. But FOTA has achieved significant cost reductions while retaining the DNA of Formula 1 and this is extremely beneficial in the current economic climate.

How do the global economic problems affect the team and Formula 1 in general?

The global economy affects everyone. Most sports will be affected in some form; that is inevitable when you have a global economic trend such as this. However, I believe Formula 1 is in a strong position because of its global reach. If a sport is focused on a very narrow geographical area, it will be very vulnerable in this climate but different regions are affected in different ways and to different extents so both Toyota and Formula 1 are, in my opinion, relatively less exposed to the risk. In fact, there is no reason why we should not consolidate or even continue to grow the popularity of Formula 1 in the coming years. 

How do you cope with being cost conscious without compromising performance?

I think all teams are managing with fewer resources and that doesn’t apply only to Formula 1; it is happening across the board in motorsport. It is vitally important to have a detailed knowledge of what is driving costs, then you need to be able to prioritise the areas which bring value or performance. In addition, a lean company must have a culture of waste reduction and constant improvement. Happily, these are all factors which Toyota puts particular emphasis on, even in prosperous times, so I am confident we are in good shape. The basic principles of the Toyota Way will help us pass through this difficult time and emerge a stronger and more competitive organisation.

Are you happy with the cost-savings agreed in December?

These are positive, decisive measures which will significantly reduce costs while retaining the DNA of Formula 1 and that was very important to Toyota. FOTA members worked hard to achieve this; there was a universal determination to make genuine progress through cooperation and constructive dialogue so we are satisfied with the process and the results. We are also delighted the FIA World Motor Sport Council acted quickly and positively to endorse the proposals.

Considering the economic situation, what is your reaction to the long-term commitments of Panasonic and Denso?

We have been very fortunate to enjoy tremendous support from long-term partners such as Panasonic and Denso. It is a partnership between some of the world’s great corporations. We share very similar values and a passion for cutting-edge technology. Both Panasonic and Denso provide us with some of the most advanced technology available and they make a very real contribution to our success on the track. We are delighted to extend our title partnership agreement with Panasonic, taking it up to the 10-year anniversary of our time in Formula 1. We are honoured to have such loyal partners and long may these partnerships continue. In addition to this we are also able to attract new partners and this year we are very pleased to welcome Chiemsee to the team.