Who will partner Panis at Toyota?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Im not sure if this is a confirmed report or not, the team itself has not made a press release, just a report from BBC sources. They will likely turn out true though, at least according to what I've heard myself..

[nichosnz 0]

So it is still not confirmed then? For goodness sake I hope they tell us soon.

[Rohan 0]

Da Matta confirmed to drive the toyota with Panis next year....sounds good

LONDON (espnstar.com) - After several months of speculation CART champion Cristiano da Matta will drive for Toyota in Formula One next year.

According to reports on late on Friday, Da Matta has been bought out of his contract with the Newman-Haas team, and the 29-year-old will move to F1. The Brazilian admitted for the first time last weekend that Toyota had offered him a drive, but insisted he had not yet made up his mind about what to do.

"The decision is very important for me. For you it may seem easy, but for me it's a pretty difficult decision. That is the only reason why it's taking so long," Da Matta said.

A Toyota spokesman said at the time that the team were "in close contact" with Da Matta, but were not yet in a position to make an announcement.

[daz 0]

About time!!! I think he'll be the rookie to watch next year....

[nichosnz 0]

I know that officially he will be a rookie next year but it is quite difficult to think of CART champs as rookies, like da Matta, Montoya, Villeneuve.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I agree with nichos, it is hard to think of him as a rookie..

But anyway, I still refuse to believe anything until I see a press release from Toyota and Newman-Haas. I remember similar reports about Irvine taking over from Coulthard at Mclaren after 1999, as well as Jacques Villeneuve moving to Renault. So I wont believe until I see proof. And even then it will not be certain, remembering Neweygate from last year.

[DJC-Grafix 0]

well i read today on Autosport that it has been confimed.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Confirmed, da Matta has a two-year contract with Toyota and starts testing at the end of this month!! Great!

[nichosnz 0]

About flaming time! Panis's is two years also isn't it, so they should spend 2004 together also. Not quarenteed though Zanardi's Williams ans Salo's Toyota race contracts were two years and not fulfulled.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I hoping, and expecting, that da Matta will not be another Zanardi. I would be surprised if that were the case, very much so. Salo was a shocker that he didn't continue, while for Zanardi it was just obvious - his contract wasn't Y2K compliant And it helped Button, which is good

[nichosnz 0]

I will be suprised if da Matta does a Zanardi, but then I was suprised that even Zanardi did. He was in CART for 3 years and was a title contender for all of them, successfully in the last two.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

At the start of the season I was shocked with Zanardi's performance, but I just got used to him running so far in the back that at the end I was not at all amazed Button took his place.

[nichosnz 0]

I was (at the time) suprised that Button was picked over the faster and more consistant (obviously other factors were considered) in the 'shoot out test' Bruno Junqueira. Who by the way has just replaced the guy were talking about in this topic Cristiano da Matta.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

What comes around goes around, eh? Maybe Button will now be suffering in the BAR and Junquiera thrives in CART and wins a championship or two, then lands a good drive in F1?

I though do hope all the best for Button

[nichosnz 0]

Button can drive for anyone at the moment, as long as he perform well, he has time on his side. 37 is the (approximate) maximum retirement age in F1 at the moment, Button still has 14 more seasons till he gets there.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Button is still young, younger than Raikkonen for that matter. So he still has a long career ahead of him, one that will likely land him a championship in my opinion. Alonso also has time on his side.

[Rohan 0]

Button is a great potential driver with the right team....wut is he like 20? 21? as Jens said long........long....future!!! hopefully they kick DC out and take in Button .....as the matter of face kick out DC anyway!!!

[nichosnz 0]

No arguement here Rohan. Button is 23 at the next race, his birthday is in Janurary.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Button is 22, born in 1980. Raikkonen is still a man of the 70's, as he was born in 1979 and turned 23 just a few weeks ago.

And they are giving Nico Rosberg an F1 test, who was born in 1985, so theres young for you!!

[nichosnz 0]

Better young than Yoong.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hahhahhahhah :D