Toyota decide against activating contract option with Glock

Toyota decide against activating contract option with GlockSuzuka, Japan  - Timo Glock's Formula One future with Toyota seems uncertain after it was revealed the Japanese carmaker has so far decided against activating an option to retain him as a driver next season.

The news means that despite his second-place finish in Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix, Glock, who was informed of the decision a day before the race, must now consider his options.

A spokesperson for Toyota confirmed to German Press Agency dpa Monday that the option has not yet been taken up but added that it was still possible that Glock had a future at the team.

"It doesn't mean that the partnership is at an end," he said. "The door is not closed."

However, the German told the online edition of Sport-Bild that it was now time for him to "look around" after Toyota team principal John Howett broke the news on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson told dpa that the decision bore no relevance to Toyota's future in F1, making it absolutely clear that the carmaker was remaining in the sport.

There has been speculation that Toyota could be considering withdrawing from F1 at the end of the season due to the global economic crisis and the fact the carmaker has failed to win a race since entering the sport in 2001.

Around 1,000 people are employed by the company at its F1 base in Cologne and with negative economic results expected from Toyota in the coming weeks, fears have been expressed that the carmaker could call it a day if a private investor cannot be found to take over the team.

All Glock can do is concentrate on this weekend's Japanese GP in Suzuka and hope that he learns more when he meets with Toyota's top brass during the week.

"We'll see what they say and whether perhaps there is something that can be done," he said. "At least the success in Singapore came at the right time."(dpa)