Are Toyota this stupid?

[loneranger]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motor

Ralf expects F1 drive next season
Ralf Schumacher fully expects to be driving in Formula One next season, despite his disappointing start to the 2007 campaign with Toyota.
The 31-year-old has taken just one point from the opening three races.

"If we don't improve I have no concerns that it will affect where I might be next season," said Schumacher, whose deal expires at the end of the season.

"I'm confident I will have a race seat somewhere, and we will let you know when the time comes."

Schumacher came eighth in the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia, but he has since finished 15th and 12th in Malaysia and Bahrain.

His team-mate Jarno Trulli has taken four points after two seventh place finishes, leaving Toyota in fifth place in the team standings behind Mclaren-Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW Sauber, Mercedes and Renault.

But Schumacher believes Toyota will secure better results as the season progresses.

"Obviously I'm not happy with the current situation, and we as a team are not happy," he said.

"We've scored a few points, but the target is to fight for podium positions and victories towards the end of the year.

"So we will work hard and hopefully we will improve, and I am confident things will improve this season. It will come - no worries.

"But if we make progress, which I hope is as we expect, then towards the end of the season we should be good."

Schumacher's older brother, seven-time world champion Michael, will be back on the F1 scene at the weekend when he attends the Spanish Grand Prix in his capacity as an advisor to former team Ferrari.

"I'm happy he's around again, but I'd be happier if it was on a more neutral basis - then he might stop by," added Ralf.

"It means we probably won't see each other because he is here in his official position, working for Ferrari as an employee, so it doesn't really change anything."

[anonymous-user]

i suspect this is ralf putting himself in the shop window knowing full well that toyota wont be retaining his services... i would be astonished if he got another drive next year but then the likes of Trulli are still in F1 so nothing is certain these days....

[apache]

Coincidentally I was talking with one of the Toyota mechanics just now, he says there is a certain lack of hunger being displayed by their drivers and if things don't look up they'll be binning F1 and concentrating on other things.

[mat205125]

Ralf is sh!t and has always been sh!t. How he commands the kind of salary that he attracts, I'll never know.

Sure in the early days there could have been a bit of gambling that he would live up to his surname, but that never happened.

No loss to the sport if and when he does go. Free's up space for young racing talent to come through, rather than some spoilt little rich kid playing racing driver for sh!ts and giggles.

[TheOriginalGT40]

With Williams looking like they are turning the corner now, it wouldn't surprise me if Toyota pull the plug on a works team and focus all there attention on building a closer relationship with williams, just like Merc have done with McLaren.

It makes sound commercial sense, becuase if Williams start to win again, Toyota will still be able to take all glory and use for their own marketing purposes and Williams will have the sound finacial backing to thrive once more.

You might even get a special edition Williams road car as they did with the Renaults when they supplied them in the 90's during their winning spree.

Would make perfect financial sense for FW and PH as they get closer to retirement too and safe guards all their workforce.

That leaves Toyota to play with the WRC again (without cheating this time) and kicks Ralf and Trulli onto the scrapheap which is not a bad thing really...

[jamieboy]

TheOriginalGT40 said:

With Williams looking like they are turning the corner now, it wouldn't surprise me if Toyota pull the plug on a works team and focus all there attention on building a closer relationship with williams, just like Merc have done with McLaren.
...
Would make perfect financial sense for FW and PH as they get closer to retirement too and safe guards all their workforce.

Or Toyota could buy Williams outright, same as BMW did with Sauber.

[The Hypno-Toad]

jamieboy said:

TheOriginalGT40 said:

With Williams looking like they are turning the corner now, it wouldn't surprise me if Toyota pull the plug on a works team and focus all there attention on building a closer relationship with williams, just like Merc have done with McLaren.
...
Would make perfect financial sense for FW and PH as they get closer to retirement too and safe guards all their workforce.

Or Toyota could buy Williams outright, same as BMW did with Sauber.

VERY strong rumours of a faction within Toyota back in Japan who are just counting the days til they can bin the F1 team and go back to Le Mans, which they consider unfinished business, with an electric/petrol hybrid (the prototype engine is already running.). This would leave them free to continue to supply Williams in F1 and share in any glory that may come their way with the added bonus that any Le Mans victories would reflect directly onto their product range. (Prius, new hybrid Celica replacement etc.)

Edited by The Hypno-Toad on Friday 11th May 15:05

[Jungles]

It is said that quitters never win, and winners never quit. But what if you never win and don't know when to quit?

Get a move on Ralf.

Trulli also needs to retire.

In fact, a lot of heads could be eligible for a roll in Toyota F1.

How about putting Frank Motagny in the 2nd seat (he was faster than both his team mates in Super Aguri last year, and one of them - Sato - has a full time drive again this year)? And then perhaps trying to reign in a experienced driver like Pedro De La Rosa for the 1st seat. IMHO, P D L Rosa would be a good development driver for Toyota, as well as a comparable race driver to Ralf and Trulli. Toyota can then use the savings from their salary packets for more car development, if the organisation has the spirit to do it.

[MrKipling43]

How about sacking off a Toyota works F1 team, buying Williams and branding it Williams Lexus?

That would make much more sense - it would seperate a race team from Toyota's (faux) enviro-friendly ambitions, but leave their premium brand to reap the commercial rewards of a successful Formula 1 team.

[apache]

The Hypno-Toad said:

VERY strong rumours of a faction within Toyota back in Japan who are just counting the days til they can bin the F1 team and go back to Le Mans, which they consider unfinished business, with an electric/petrol hybrid (the prototype engine is already running.).

Yup, that's what I heard too

[jbudgie]

Would not like to see the Williams name disappear from F1 though.

[TheOriginalGT40]

jbudgie said:

Would not like to see the Williams name disappear from F1 though.

I doubt it would. Williams have a far stronger brand than Sauber (as mentioned before) so it would not be a copy of the BMW buyout. Instead more like the McLaren Merc deal.

BTW the only reason BMW still use the Sauber name is becuase they are waiting for success before dropping it so that any poor performance can be attributed to Sauber's history. With the way the team is heading this year, I expect the team to drop Sauber from next year...

...synical maybe, but correct me thinks

[anonymous-user]

BMW actually did drop the Sauber part of the name pre-season this year, but then decided to add it back in, before the first race. So you are spot on about BMW's wankness in this regard.

[redlake27]

In fairness, Trulli has been superb this year in qualifying as usual.

[loneranger]

redlake27 said:

In fairness, Trulli has been superb this year in qualifying as usual.

He and Webber are both fast over one lap with no other cars in the way.
Unfortunately Formula 1 races are a little longer than this and involve the inconvenience of other cars in the way. These differences are too much for either of these two to handle.