2007 F1 Preview: Toyota
February 19th 2007 02:17
Car Number 11
Quick when he wants to be
Stats
D.O.B: June 30, 1975
Debut: Australia 1997, Jordan-Peugeot
Starts: 162
Wins: 6
Fastest Laps: 8
Poles: 6
Points: 324
Ralf has never been a slow driver, but being cast in his brother Michael’s shadow has definitely not helped him so far. As the sole Schumacher on the grid, Ralf can get on with his racing without worrying about hacks questioning him why he trundles around in P11, while his brother is a multi-championship winning racing machine? Not that it ever really worried Ralf, who has shown that when the car underneath him is to his liking, he will fly. He did it at Williams, and he did it with Toyota in 2005, in the TF105B, the B-car the team ended the season with. Ralf was comfortable in that car, and he went on to eventually beat his teammate in the championship, a stat that surprises most when they hear it. If the Tf107 is to Ralf’s liking, expect him to challenge podiums, even perhaps sneak a win, but if it isn’t up to scratch, expect him to be tooling about near the back, disinterested. Toyota needs to inspire Ralf in order to unleash his often-dormant pace.
Car Number 12
One-lap wonder
Stats
D.O.B: July 12, 1974
Debut: Australia 1997, Minardi-Hart
Starts: 164
Wins: 1
Fastest Laps: 0
Poles: 3
Points: 175
When Jarno has the right car, and right mindset, he is one of F1’s fastest drivers. However, so far in his career, the right car has not usually been there when he was in the the right mindset, and vice versa. The Italian is perhaps the quickest driver in F1 over a single lap. When it is just he, the car and the open road rolling under his wheels, Jarno soars. But with race fuel-loads, tyre degradation, strategies and 20-odd other cars around him, Trulli’s ethereal pace evades him. It’s a frustrating characteristic. Still, when things are going right for Jarno, and he’s comfortable and happy, he will perform on Sunday, as he proved in 2004, winning at Monaco, and in 2005 with several podiums. As with Ralf, Toyota needs to deliver a good car to Jarno if they want him to perform to his capabilities. Jarno might find himself on the front row a few times this year, but race wins are a distant hope.
The Team
Starts: 87
Wins: 0
Fastest Laps: 1
Poles: 2
Points: 150
WDC: 0
WCC: 0
Test Drivers: Franck Montagny (Fra), Kohei Hirate (Jap), Kamui Kobayashi (Jap).
Toyota is an intriguing team. They have the money and the resources and, you would assume, now, the experience to be a race-winning team. However, after a poor season in 2006, where they failed to sustain the momentum from their impressive showing in 2005, the team was quick to revert to the ‘new team’ excuse. With 87 Grands Prix under their wheels, Toyota should now think of themselves as an established team, who should be winning.
Toyota's shiny, new machine
Testing has been arduous
On their own merit, Toyota won't nail that elusive win in 07, but regular visits to the podium should be achievable. If not heads will roll.
In a Nutshell:
Strengths: Enormous financial and engineering depth, quick drivers, Bridgestone experience
Weaknesses: Not run as an F1 team; no stars in the engineering department; corporate pressure to perform increasing.
Scoreboard:
Drivers: 7/10
Engine: 7/10
Chassis: 6/10
Resources: 9/10
Personnel: 6/10
Total: 35/50
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