Toyota's chances

[Glen]

What d'ya reckon?

Should Minardi be looking forward to not being last?

Should Prost (if they even make it) be worried?

Will they even even get up into Jaguar and BAR territory by the end on the season?

Alan McNish just confirmed - will he sink or swim?

[paulzinho]

I'm not sure how they'll do.

Sometimes I think, ouch they look awful but then again they may spring a surprise. they'll have knowledge of circuits and data for next year so it wont be a step into the unknown.

The jurys out with me.

[timbo2001]

Yes, i think the Minardis will be last. Even with the promised 800hp from the asiatech, they will still be laging at LEAST 50hp down on the mid to front runners, and most likely toyota too. Prost will fail. plain and simple. the driver/owner thing doesn't work. Toyota SHOULD blow them out of the water. and i think that it will be quite possible for them to reach jag and bar territory, provided these two teams continue with their lacklustre performances. And finally, Alan Mcnish. I don't think he will swim straight away, but give him a little time, as he has proven in testing he can be just as quick as well respected Mika Salo. The thing that isn't on his side is age. he is 32 (i think) and that means realistically he is only looking at about 5yrs in f1, thats if he prooves himself worthy of his place on the grid in Melbourne in just a few months.

[Bononi]

I think they'll start in the last positions, but in the second half of the season, they'll be somewhere between BAR and Jaguar.

[ljakse]

I expect them to be:

1. in front of Minardi and Prost
2. maybe also Arrows
3. ocassionaly chalenging BAR and Jordan
4. final - somewhere between 6th and 10th in WCC

[Glen]

I think they'll be lucky to get past Arrows.

There have been lots of stories about plenty of power from their new engine, but serious AND reliable power is hard to come by; and its very rare for a new engine to flourish in the very first season.

The Ferrari customer engines, for example, would be quite a bit more powerful than the new Toyota, I'd have thought.

Add in the inexperienced drivers and I think they've got a nasty uphill struggle to get going.

Good luck to them though - but wouldn't it be great if Minardi did beat them?

[AndyF]

I think they will start off at the back, but by mid-season will be moving up.

[paulzinho]

A bit like Benneton this year then?

[Glen]

For any team to come on as Bennetton have this year would be a major coup. There again Bennetton were building on an established, experienced team - and had two very good (one very, very good) drivers at their disposal. Actually, three drivers, since Webber was testing as well.

Bennetton went from languishing with the Minardis to eclipsing the Jags - I'd lay money that Toyota won't manage that much. To be consistent and reliable and as fast as, say, Arrows would be a good target.