Are Esso and Toyota no longer partners?

[Giuseppe F1]

Only just realised this weekend that there seems to no longer be any ESSO branding on the Toyotas.......plus they are also no longer listed on the 'Partner' section of Toyota's F1 website with all the teams other sponsors and technical/commercial partners...

...I know Esso and Toyota have been involved together for many years across many motorsport disciplines...

...Has there been a falling out?

Sometimes sponsors do scale back their on-car branding, although this would be surprising as other fuel companies including Mobil1, Shell, Petronas, Elf, Petrobras, Eneos, and SS United (although the latter not in the long term as SuperAguri are sueing them owing to late sponsorship payments) all have a big on-car prescence in F1 -

Why would Esso not be listed on Toyoya's Partners list at least?

Im confused??

[Giuseppe F1]

Just thinking on another 'Fuel Partner' point, do Scuderia Toro Rosso use SHELL fuel owing to the fact they run a Ferrari engine? Is it a neccesity?

Perhaps not as obviously when Sauber ran customer Ferrari's they used Petronas fuel with the engine rather than Shell.

Certain Engine supplys seem to be tied to particular fuel partners, owing either to nationalistic reasons, or past sporting/business collaboration ; Renault recommends elf, Peugeot/Total, Toyota/Esso etc.

I know from their website that Red Bull Racing use Elf fuel as they run a Renault powerplant so just curious to know what fuel STR run?

(and what fuel Spyker run for that matter?)


Oh yeah - and still interested in views on the Toyota/Esso topic upthread! Apologies for deviating :)

[Valve Bounce]

You'll know for sure when Ralfie comes in for his pit stop and nothing comes out of the rig. :D

[spiltmilk]

isnt esso and mobil1 the same company

[Giuseppe F1]

isnt esso and mobil1 the same company

'Exxon Mobil' is the parent company yet 'Mobil1' and 'Esso' are still operated as 2 separate brands

[AndyRAC]

Toyota should be Castrol, with a green and red livery. The Esso livery never looked right.

[spiltmilk]

can u say christmas

[leopard]

It doesn't seem Toyota is quite happy running color mainly other than red and white, although if they can have castrol they will not give any great space for green.

[wmcot]

It doesn't seem Toyota is quite happy running color mainly other than red and white, although if they can have castrol they will not give any great space for green.

Maybe Honda should pick up Castrol. That way they can say they are running a "green" fuel! :)