Glock announces leaving Toyota and moving closer to Renault

Timo Glock, currently resting since his accident in Japan, where he fractured a vertebra, admitted that his future was no longer with Toyota and that he could likely sign with Renault next year or, if not, with Manor GP. Toyota, however, had made him an offer.

His Japanese team replaced him for the last two races of the season with the Japanese Kamui Kobayashi. Given his good performances, Toyota might decide to keep Kobayashi as a main driver next year, leaving Glock or Trulli to look for a new team next season. Trulli says he is uncertain, and Glock even more so. According to him, he is close to an agreement with Renault to team up with Robert Kubica next year. Manor GP has also promised him a spot due to its sponsorship partnership with Virgin.

When interviewed today in the paddocks in Abu Dhabi, Glock confirmed 100% that he has a seat for the 2010 F1 championship. However, he still doesn’t know with which team… I am optimistic about this because the discussions with the teams are very advanced. There are a lot of rumors about my departure from Toyota, and it’s true that I have great opportunities.

« There might also be a surprise about me in the coming days. A team that no one has anticipated my arrival… Opportunities are there, you just have to seize them… » reveals the 27-year-old German.

Timo Glock, who raced in F1 for the first time in 2004, no longer intends to stay with Toyota: « I could, but the chance for it to remain as it is, is very slim. Just saying. » And yet, despite Renault’s poor performances this season, the German would prefer the team with the diamond logo rather than risk going to one of the three new structures of 2010: « Everyone knows that new teams are never very interesting. But who knows, next season anything is possible. With the new rules and significant fuel loads, we cannot predict anything. Looking at what happened this season, even a small team like Force India has a chance to be in the top 5. »

Timo Glock finally clarified that if his future was so open, it is because he knows that except for McLaren or Ferrari, no team can guarantee his place at the top: « No matter where I go, I can never be sure it will be the right choice. Every team, even a manufacturer, can have a rough patch, so it doesn’t really matter which organization you join. The most important thing is to make the most of it. »