Toyota

[West]

Ralf has been announced as a driver for Toyota after this season. I hope Da Matta returns as the 2nd driver, and Webber goes to Williams. Thoughts/reactions?

[Guest]

this is a typical example of throwing around with money without any gain in performance...
Trulli ,fisi,and Villeneuve aor even coulthart would have done at least as well a job for half the retainer.And who needs a teammeber who is called :that asshole...
Drivers are not the issue for toyota ,and zonta would have strived given half a chance...

[Monstrobolaxa]

Don't think Villeneuve would have done it for half what Ralf is going to earn.....in one of his last interviews in F1 Villeneuve mentioned that he wouldn't drive in F1 for a low salary....cause he's a ex-world champion...and deserves it and he doesn't want to put his life on the line...in a dangerous sport without having a good $$$ garanty.

[Guest]

ralf is said to have 17mill € a year...I don´t think Jaques would have asked for that sort of money...

[Monstrobolaxa]

Well Villeneuve last year was earning around 15 million (correct me if I'm wrong).

In the interview I read he said he deserved more....I'd say he'd come back for around 6 or 7 million.

[Spencifer_Murphy]

Congratulations to Toyota for confirming the worst kept secret in Formula1 probably ever. Bloody rediculous, it wasn't a matter that many people had a strong suspision Ralf would switch to Toyota...People knew it! If I'm honest I can't say its going to have much of an effect unless the TF104B and the TF105 are much improved cars. We rarely see Ralf during a GP, and when we do he is either taking a shortcut through the gravel traps or running into things / other drivers. (Not a joke about his Indy accident...just everything else)

Now I know Ralf is an execptionally quick driver on his day...but he doesn't have many of his days does he? Maybe - and hopefully - he won't be under as much pressure at Toyota as at Williams and it might help his mentality. To Ralf, Toyota are a fresh start, and hopefully their 2005 car will be quick and reliable. If so we might see a strong return of form for Ralf. Either that or he will continue taking the Rallycross line through corners...just at the back of the field.

Next season will be one of two extremes for Ralf. It could be a huge step forward for both him and Toyota...or it could be a step backwards from his already poor recent form. I sincerly hope it's the former.

[j4kwan]

WEll...I can see Ralf perform better next season as he is with a new team, with new vigour...but how long will that last if the TF chassis does not improve significantly...it'll be like Villeneuve switching to BAR...

Toyota as a front runner will be an awesome sight. I do believe with Mike Gascoyne around, the car will improve tremendously. How long will it take? - I don't believe it'll be next year (maybe end of next year). More importantly, how much performance will be in the driver's hand...I can't say much. Like MG said, he's there build a fast fast car able to win races and for anyone to drive. So why pay Ralf so much dough?! Keep the two drivers they have now or if they are not happy with Da Matta, throw in Heidfeld (whom I believe is pretty fast for a cheap buck, and has lots of race and test experience for his age) Panis may be old, but I believe he's a significant asset to developing a car.

[West]

Trulli is said to be joining Toyota next year.

[sharkie17]

Trulli and Toyota would be an excellent match.

[Guest]

if you really look ralf is bad value...he was called :that asshole at jordan(?)or williams ..i don´t remember exactly.Alll that talk about him putting the accidents aside....it looks like singing loud in the dark forrest to combat the beasts..
If Toyota really had a driver Issue....Panis knows what a car needs, but he is the driver,nothing more.
Personally I see Michael constantly, Webber ,Fisi and Heidfeld at times
making a difference.For Jag...one really does not know what the car is worth as for the time being..Fisi was quick all the timehe got hold of decent equipment,and Nick gets everything out of that Jordan..

[F1freak]

I have just been thinking about Toyota a lot lately with recent speculation of Flavio going to Toyota at end of this season (or was it David Richards.) Either way here's a team that can easily outspend any team in F1 (even Ferrari!!) They acquired one of the best Technical directors in F1 last year who specializes in aero - Toyota's weakness. They have one of the biggest workforce dedicated to F1 etc etc.

Given all this, why arent more top drivers excited about a switch to Toyota? I mean if I'm a driver looking for a ride, I would sure as hell try to get a long term contract with them (5+ years.) Maybe Ralf has learned from elder brother....maybe all of Toyota's money will "buy" Ralf a championship in the future? Your thoughts..........

[j4kwan]

True that...Ralfie boy is on his way to a 'purchased' championship (?)
If I was a driver I'd surely be looking towards a Toyota drive. They've got a really really strong engine, they've got Gascoyne for aero and now its a matter of experience and refinement.

Everybody wants an out of the box, top shop drive, but don't want to sweat a few years to help develop the team - I don't blame them, because on the other hand, those that bleed work ethics get the pink slip - JV, Salo, McNish. I think there's too little time to prove yourself in F1 and picking up a team that hasn't matured can just utterly kill the career. But hey, you gotta take chances. Sorry Mika!

[Spencifer_Murphy]

True a Toyota drive should in theory be quite a nice offer. More funds than anyone else. One of he best technical directors in the sport, one of the best engines in the sport and with two top drivers they should do well as long as Mike Gascoyne can pull that chassis together. Hopefully the TF106 should be the car Toyota deserve.

[marcush.]

imo it all depends on just how good their tunnel performs,just how accurate the results correlate.And of course just how good their tech ideas are in aerowise.
Just look at sauber...after years with stagnation ,they begin to run their new tunnel and almost instantly they begin to climb up the field.Their old tunnel the Emmen tunnel was known for being a bit special...All companies relying on the famous swift tunnel in the states had BIG trouble whereas Ferrari has turned around its fortunes and speed with the introduction of their new tunnel.
This years car indicates that the Toyota Tool has led to some steps backwards.If this was the fault of the men operating the aerodevelopments or the tunnel itself should be soon visible.
Same goes for williams.

[v10motorhead]

By my standards I reckon Ralf is the worst driver on the grid.... Lets look at some facts:

Melbourne- Pathetic qualifying & blows up engine in race

Sepang- Punctures Webber's tyre & ruins his race

Sakhir- Has an overtaking incident with Sato leaving Sato nowhere to go

Imola- Tries to overtake Alonso without using his mirrors & eventually spins out

Barcelona- Can't remember what he did there.....

Monaco- Puts Alonso out of the race at the tunnel

Nurburgring- Although not entirely his fault got involved with an incident with Montoya but drove over DaMatta & took him out as well....

Montreal- Not a spectacular drive but got disqualified anyway

Indy- The big one... They couldn't get a good camera view of what he was doing, but it looks like he got a tyre on the grass & landed in the 'wall'

After all this & numerous instances in previous races like melbourne 2001(he killed a marshall remember?), usa 2002 etc... i definetly wouldnt want to see ralf in f1... i hope hes out for good... the guys trying to be someone hes not: big brother.

He's go no character, no style & can only drive in clean air, he'll make the perfect test driver.

Toyota better sign up a driver of better calibre, worst part is Toyota is stuck with ralf for 3 years! What a bomb.

I hope Trulli joins Toyota, now he's a good driver