Official: Trulli signed by Toyota since now

[climb]

(Hoping not to duplicate an existing thread)
Italian press has confirmed that Jarno has signed for Toyota, and will start testing right today at Silverstone.

best wishes to him, I hope joining his former chief designer will help both, and above all, Toyota to gain some credibility

[Dutton]

link at all?

[Glen]

Strong team they have there now. Ralf and Trulli - both a little awkward to manage but as fast as any on a good day. Panis and Zonta is as good a testing line up as any. Gascoyne is top three F1 designer for sure - and the first Toyota that is all his is on the way. Plus you've got a budget second to none... I'd say they will make a good step in 2005 - BAR should be worried. Podiums are possible, although race wins are unlikely in the forseeable future - perhaps 2006.

[BSchneiderFan]

Toyota have, to my mind somewhat inexplicably, managed to sign two of the most inconsistent and psychologically fragile drivers in the pitlane. Sure, both can be blindingly fast on a good day, but when do the good days come? And what happens if they both have a bad day on the same weekend. No points for Toyota... I think things may get worse before they get better.

[Dutton]

Must say, think Toyota should have played a blinder in getting Panis to be a tester for two years.

[Kicking-back]

Zonta has signed to remain as Friday tester next year too - it's a very strong line up overall.


Both Ralf and Jarno have done well under the leadership of Mike Gascoyne in the past - I suspect they may work well together.

[Dutton]

Indeed KB, with regards Ralf and Jarno in I would agree entirely.

Toyota are piecing it together, bit by bit. Hopefully now, with such a decent set-up, they won't go and fire them both if they are not winning every race or something......

One would think Toyota would have the sense to realise that would be totally counter-productive.

[BootsOntheSide]

They need to be patient and disciplined in driver management with that kind of line-up. I can imagine them being in contention for top 6 grid spots and podiums at some tracks, but nowhere at others. With JV at Sauber, and Williams in a rebuilding phase, the battle for 5th in the CC could be interesting next year.

I'm glad Jarno's got this sorted out - assuming he survives the first season, it should eb a great team in future.

[Dutton]

I often wonder whether it will be Mike that will keep the top echelons at bay with regard the Ralf and Jarno, should they, um, go through one of their, um, less prolific periods?

He has the experience of working with them in the past and so on, which is a potentially nice little card to have in the deck?

[EERO]

I have to disagree with those who think Jarno and Ralf will be a good pairing. Yes, both have experience with Gascoyne, but both have somewhat touchy personalities and need alot of coddling; both are brilliant on their besty days but miserable on far too many; both are finger-pointers, ready to cast blame onto others.


Frankly, the only level head they have is Panis. I see a recipe for disaster.

[Hugh Jarce]

Well - its all in place now - let's see how it goes!

[Dutton]

EERO, that possibility is most certainly there; but, for some reason, I think that those problems will be less significant. I did not mean it will be perfect and harmonious, certainly not, but rather that they will both be more channeled to work together. THey cannot afford not to.

THere is the other side that they are in a team that have not really worked with drivers of the callibre that they are: thus the ego massaging should be somewhat present, which tye would both appreciate (the team doesn't have past experience with drivers who have won titles and so on).

Whilst not perfection, I certainly don't think disaster is round the corner.

[f1manoz]

Interesting driver line-up at Toyota, and one that can go either way: either they'll work brilliantly together and will push the team forward; or they'll nitpick each other, both fall apart psychologically and Toyota will stand still.

However, both are race winners, Gascoyne can design race winning cars, and Toyota will do anything for results, so the ingredients are there for a successful (well, more successful than the past three) season.

[racer69]

If Trulli is testing for Toyota now, whta is he driving for the rest of the year?

[climb]

Nothing, in theory; nevertheless, should he set way faster times than the current drivers, Toyota could be tempted to give him a seat before the season ends IMO

[racer69]

So who is driving the Renault?

[Daisy]

Jacques

[Glen]

Fisi next year.

[903cc]

Here Here BSchneiderFan

[ralf fan]

no surprise really that Jarno is joining Toyota... had an impressive first half of the year...hopefuly for him it may continue

[Knowlesy]

Have to agree with EERO.

I think this pairing could go very very badly wrong.

But on the other hand, it could go brilliantly right!

[Hugh Jarce]

Well I think if I now predicetd the performance of BAR, Sauber, Renault, Jag and Jordan with Toyota in the next five years, I'd have to say that Toyota now have the line up to top that group.

Whether they can compete with Mac and Willy is another challenge but given the resources, you'd have to say yes!

Toyota could be a great place to be right now - alwayts nice to join when the up-turn is about to happen.

[climb]

Yes, the only doubt is about how long will they be granted such a huge budget if they keep losing.

happily for them, the Toyota corp is very healty and wealthy in the current times

[Giando]

Mmm... Trulli in his first day at Toyota in Silverstone set a lap time only 0,500 slower than the best time of the day... not so bad, considering he didn't knew the car and that his team mates stayed 1,2 seconds up the best time of the day the previous days.

Maybe he's not so bad as someone seem to think here.

Maybe he could run in China.

?

[BSchneiderFan]

I wouldn't suggest Trulli is a bad driver. On the contrary, he is naturally very talented. Sadly, he is also woefully inconsistent.