Rumours about Toyota in 2005

[Senna 0]

itv-f1.com has said that JV has had talks with Toyota for 2005.

Planetf1.com has said that RS is nearly signed for 2005.

DC is also a possible candidate.

:?:

[eddoyle 0]

My guess is that Toyota will be looking to be genuine contenters in two to three seasons. Thus the likely driver pairing for the next two seasons will be one very experienced driver (though not an out and out title contender because they would be too expensive and take from the development of the car .i.e JV at BAR in the early years) and one up and coming rookie.

thus drivers like DC & JV with a young charger would be ideal for Toyota. I discount the RS rumours, as I belive Ralf knows that he is better off being in a competitive car at this stage of his career. I believe that RS is using the Toyota runours to 'help' his contract negotiations along with Williams.

Could you imagine RS at thsi stage in his career agressively fighting with Sauber and Jaguar while he was being lapped by Motoya(Mclaren), possible MS, Rubens, Kimi and the two williams drivers ?

No .. neither could Ralf.

[Senna 0]

If I was the boss of Toyota, I wouldn’t go with an experienced driver to partner a rookie but two experienced drivers: I’d sign JV and DC. JV with the right car would return to F1 motivated and quick and who knows, the year sabbatical might refresh him in the way Schumacher’s recovery time in `99 did i.e. he would return at the top of his game. He is also a big name and a former World Champion and this would improve the image of Toyota. DC is a quick, intelligent driver who with the right team around him, i.e. one that isn’t built around a Fin, would flourish. JV and DC are also friends and thus a good atmosphere would exist, further more both are former winners and experienced drivers – the ideal pairing considering the circumstances.

[ecapdeville 0]

Could you imagine RS at thsi stage in his career agressively fighting with Sauber and Jaguar while he was being lapped by Motoya(Mclaren), possible MS, Rubens, Kimi and the two williams drivers ?

What about Alonso ? or the next Renault driver ????? :wink:

greetings from mexico city

[hollywood2003 0]

why would you want DC? he has never been able to get on terms with any of his team mates before, why would toyota want a good 2nd rate driver??

I think they will be the team of the next 3 yrs and I hope ryan briscoe and/or scott dixon get the gig, so it will be an australasian driver line up.

Go aussie!!

[nojvnof1 0]

Briscoe won't drive for them straight away as I think he'll do a year at Minardi then be brought back with experience. Dixon will most likely join Williams I feel rather than Toyota. Although JV has been linked with Toyota, I can only see RS and the driver who scores the most points this year for the team staying, either CDM or OP. You could also throw in DC!! Although they have a crap car this year, Toyota are in the same position as Benetton were when Gascoyne joined them for '01. They were slow for half the season then picked up the pace and even got a podium. By '02 they were regular points finishers then they were getting podiums and a win. Next years car will and should be alot better. If JV goes there, I don't think his misery will last much longer, although a move to Williams if the RS to Toyota is confirmed or Renault would be nice. Let's just see how things go.

[webber 0]

y not dixion and CDM that way toyota can have 2 x Indy/IRL champs

[Taku 0]

i think ralf to toyota is a real possibility, and a better option for toyota than dc. they are based in germany, so ralf could be an advantage there too.

it's hard to say dc isn't worth signing, cos he can be so brilliant on race day. it's just the "it's my year this year" speech that makes him look like such a tool. but every time i think of dc's brilliance, i think of magny cours when he took m$ at the hairpin and gave him the finger. gold! so he can't be discounted cos he has that mongrel in him that ralf doesn't.

but it's one or the other imo, with da matta being retained, cos a) the toyota usa boys love him, and oli's gettin on ala alesi.

jv is an interesting option and would be sweet revenge for jv, taking the toyota fight for japanese supremacy to bar honda.

[nojvnof1 0]

i think ralf to toyota is a real possibility, and a better option for toyota than dc.  they are based in germany, so ralf could be an advantage there too.

it's hard to say dc isn't worth signing, cos he can be so brilliant on race day.  it's just the "it's my year this year" speech that makes him look like such a tool.  but every time i think of dc's brilliance, i think of magny cours when he took m$ at the hairpin and gave him the finger. gold!     so he can't be discounted cos he has that mongrel in him that ralf doesn't.  

but it's one or the other imo, with da matta being retained, cos a) the toyota usa boys love him, and oli's gettin on ala alesi.

jv is an interesting option and would be sweet revenge for jv, taking the toyota fight for japanese supremacy to bar honda.

yeah that move was brilliant, made better by the salute!!. As for JV, I can't see him there if they sign Ralf, as I believe Ralf will get one seat and either DC or whoever wins the driver battle between this years drivers will get the other one. Panis may be getting on, but Alesi was still quick at that age, and Panis is doing well so I don't think age will be a factor.

shaun

[daz 0]

My bet - RS & CDM for Toyota next year.

DC I think will be lucky to get a drive next year. If anything it will more likely be for Jordan or Jaguar than anywhere else...

[Taku 0]

the more i think about it, the more i favour dc. i mean who would you rather have in the c##Kpit taking on the big boys if you wanted to make a statement, ralf or dc? (if you add jv to this then the answer's obvious)

if dc could only qualify better it would be a no-brainer, but ralf does have that cool head in qualifying..

[nojvnof1 0]

the more i think about it, the more i favour dc.  i mean who would you rather have in the c##Kpit taking on the big boys if you wanted to make a statement, ralf or dc?  (if you add jv to this then the answer's obvious)

if dc could only qualify better it would be a no-brainer, but ralf does have that cool head in qualifying..

The problem with ralf is that hes too inconsistent. When he's good, as in France last year, he can be good, but when he's having an off day, he may as well stay at home. Ralf will basically go to whomever offers him the most, and that will be Toyota with their huge budget and desire for a 'name'. As for DC, he's got the experience and the speed at times, but if he sorts quali out he could be a dark horse, but I stick with Ralf and either CDM or OP for next year, most likely CDM. Don't know why, but thats my pick.

shaun

[Senna 0]

why would you want DC? he has never been able to get on terms with any of his team mates before, why would toyota want a good 2nd rate driver??

DC debuted alongside Damon Hill - the 1996 World Champion – who until 1999 was a very quick driver. No one would expect DC to beat this kind of a teammate in his first year - Jacques Villeneuve couldn’t and he won the title the following year. Mika Hakkinen is a double world champion and a great racer who managed to out qualify Ayrton Senna on his debut! Kimi Raikkonen is also a top racer and one of the three best in F1 today. Being beaten by these three is no disgrace and David Coulthard is a good driver – much better than Ralf Schumacher. Ralf Schumacher can’t overtake or race his brother; in contrast DC has pulled some special moves on MS and has frequently proven his worth to McLaren, he is also not a money grabber and doesn't live off the reputation of his brother, nor does he exist in the team partly because of his nationality. DC is very intelligent and experienced, in my opinion he is a good option for Toyota and would flourish in a team that no clear team leader.

[Senna 0]

Toyota don’t appear very quick at all at the moment and that won’t fill `potential options` with much enthusiasm, although extensive modifications are apparently planned for the start of the European season…

[juany 0]

Toyota don

[hollywood2003 0]

After last night's effort I think Panis may find himself unemployed next season. He has hardly shone in the toyota at all.

I am amazes that toyota is not improving, they seem to have a strong engine but the aero is awful

[Sato 0]

i loved his little signal at the crew

[C.A.L. 0]

Toyota should do something more innovative and send D.Matta back to a US based series to save him from being used up in a stagnant car.

Panis is a better driver than D.Matta and the Team is really looking like they are about to drop the ball concerning future decisions on their drivers.

Sticking Ralf SCHum. in there would deflate his balloon all the more,but should the Toyota Execs think this will work ,D.Matta should pop the chute and get out while he is still preceived to be worth something....somewhere.

Like Sauber or Jordan cleaning house when the problem is in the cars developement(lack) not in the driver(s).

Sauber themselves look lame presently with what has been shown on track for performance for having a mostly Ferrari unit. (they stink for all that).

[Taku 0]

Sticking Ralf SCHum. in there would deflate his balloon all the more,but should the Toyota Execs think this will work ,D.Matta should pop the chute and get out while he is still preceived to be worth something....somewhere.

deflate his balloon, i like that!

webber sure deflated ralf's balloon at sepang, and ralfie didn't like it. not one bit. well mark's gonna have your seat next year my friend, or your 'formality' of a seat at renault. either way ralf out, mark in.

please collect your coat at the door, and it's about time you quit riding your brother michael's while you're at it.

bye bye

[Senna 0]

Yet he is infinitely better than Takuma Sato…

[hollywood2003 0]

yes, sauber certainly have been disapppointing in the Blue ferrari I thought they would be up there this year, but obviously they have been given the B Grade engine and B grade aero!!

[nojvnof1 0]

i loved his little signal at the crew  

yeah that was funny, would have loved to hear what he said over the radio!!

shaun

[webber 0]

webber sure deflated ralf's balloon at sepang, and ralfie didn't like it.

yea so R$ deflated Webbers tyer. oooooo u got to hate the way that do it over there at ralfe land

[webber 0]

ooooooooo Olivier you just losed your 2005 drive. hay was he ment to have a stop or did he just fell like waving to them with just the one finger? did this all stop start when thay toled him to let Da mata pass.

[Senna 0]

ooooooooo Olivier you just losed your 2005 drive.

I think both Toyota’s drivers will be replaced – it’s just a matter of with whom. My choice, under present circumstances, would be JV and DC.