It's a done deal.

By Karl King
November 15 2005

Finally, after weeks of waiting it's confirmed. Don't bother holding on to your seats however, it's really not that exciting. We knew it for weeks - Bridgestone will be the rubber holding the TF106 to the tracks.

The multiple world champs - most recently with Ferrari, had their asses kicked by Michelin and Renault this year. However it doesn't look too bad.

As the sport looks set to keep only one tyre manufacturer in Formula 1 for a more level playing field, Bridgestone seems the more likely option - They have had more experience at world champions, and also haven't as yet screwed up an US GP's. Therefore we'll have more experience with them  - more than Jap rivals Honda!

Chairman of Toyota Motorsport and Team Principal of Panasonic Toyota Racing, Tsutomu Tomita said of the announcement: "It is a pleasure to announce that Toyota Motorsport and Bridgestone Motorsport have joined forces. I am sure that our two companies will share a fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship over the coming years in Formula 1. After a rather successful 2005 season, our sights are now set even higher up the grid and we feel that Bridgestone is ideally suited to the technical demands of F1 in the future and will be the best match for our 2006 car. Toyota is serious about winning in Formula 1 and we feel that the switch to Bridgestone tyres is the best option in the medium-long term."

The team will make it's first appearance on Bridgestone's at Barcelona on the 29th November 2005.

WilliamsF1 will also be joining forces with Bridgestone in 2006. This comes with rumours that Toyota will provide the British team with engines in 2007 - maybe branded under Toyota's child company Lexus. Don't forget, we'll also be neighbours with Williams in the paddock next year! But, that story is for another day...

So their we have it, an all Japanese TF106 next year.