The Toyota team may not be the only big name manufacturer announcing the end of their F1 campaign this week, as Renault were reported to have called an "emergency board meeting" to discuss their own future in the sport.
The French company has apparently called the meeting in Paris in order to discuss the future of their Formula One operations, with the possibility of stepping back to being a straightforward engine supplier said to be an option, as well as complete withdrawal from the sport.
News of the Renault meeting comes less than 24 hours after the Toyota F1 team announced their withdrawal after eight dull seasons in the sport, a move that saw the Japanese manufacturer join BMW in the list of manufacturer names to leave the sport at the end of 2009.
The loss of the German and Japanese teams follows Honda's withdrawal at the end of the 2008 season.
Renault are said to be planning an announcement on their decision later in the week, not wanting to distract from somesuch publicity event currently taking place.
Although both interim team bosses Bob Bell and Jean-Francois Caubet will attend the meeting, they are thought to be there in a witness capacity only, and will not have a say in the debate into the future of Renault's F1 operations.
The news follows a harrowing 2009 season for Renault, in which they limped to 8th place in the constructors championship and saw their management ripped apart by the Fixgate scandal, which saw Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds leave the team, and the Renault name dragged into the courtroom.
The team also lost their lead driver Fernando Alonso to rivals Ferrari for 2010.
However, the future of the F1 team in the sport, at least for the short-term, seemed to be secure, with the team having announced a new sponsorship deal with TW Steel for 2010, and Robert Kubica already having been signed to lead the team next season.
But the loss of another manufacturer from F1's dwindling monied manufacturer ranks may have caused Renault to reassess the viability of remaining in the sport.
The loss of Renault would hurt grid numbers for the 2010 season, with the only reserve team on the entry list, Qadbak Sauber, set to be drafted in to replace Toyota.
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