PARIS -- Formula One's governing body will review the legality of Toyota's pullout from the sport.
The FIA said on Wednesday that since the Japanese team's announcement comes only weeks after it committed to the sport through 2012, it will seek "urgent clarification" as to the team's "legal position" in the F1 championship.
"This will have a direct bearing on the admission of any future 13th entry," the FIA said in the statement.
• Toyota announces it will withdraw from F1
Toyota was one of 13 teams signed up to the racing grid for 2010. The former BMW Sauber team has lodged an entry to join but has not received unanimous support since Qadbak bought the team after the German carmaker also pulled out of the sport.
Despite FIA's concern, it said it would work to ensure that Toyota's departure "is managed in the best interests of the championship and will continue to encourage the F1 teams to undertake the necessary cost-cutting measures for the good of the sport."
The leading F1 teams nearly formed a breakaway series this year over the issue of a budget cap, which was one of the measures put forward following Honda's exit last year.
The Formula One Teams Association said Wednesday that the running battle over costs was partly to blame for Toyota's exit.
"The particular financial pressures within the car manufacturing industry -- together with a period of uncertainty and unnecessary confrontation in F1 that is now finally over -- created conditions which have made it difficult for Toyota to stay in the sport," FOTA said in a statement. "The departure of an important car manufacturer cannot be underestimated and its reasons need to be addressed."
