Toyota given 2010 performance deadline

By Luke Marc Carlile-Stanton
January 1 2008

2010 is the deadline for Toyota to turn round it's fortunes and succeed in Formula 1. That is the news coming from Toyota team principal Tadashi Yamashina. 2006 and 2007 saw two very disappointing seasons in Formula 1 for Toyota and a finish of sixth in the constructors standings in both of these seasons.

2007 saw the team just score 13 points for their sixth place in the championship which would have been seventh if Mclaren-Mercedes had not been excluded from the 2007 Standings. It was a bitter pill to swallow for drivers Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher who had been used to challenging for podiums in the 2005 and 2006 Seasons. This led to the departure of Ralf Schumacher and the arrival of newly crowned GP2 Champion, Timo Glock for the 2008 Season to partner Jarno who is in the team for the long term.

It is widely known that Toyota has one of the biggest budgets in the sport, but transferring financial success to the track has proven tricky the Cologne based Japanese squad since enterting the sport in 2002. The 'Toyota way' attitude of management in the sport has come under scruntiny many times but that one particular of the operation does not seem to be changing. However results on the track do have to change, and this has led to the confirmation that Toyota has until 2010 to succed in Formula 1.

Yamashina has admitted that the team cannot continue operating at this level and that improvements need to be made. It is not however crystal clear what happens to Toyota should the improvements not be made by the 2010 deadline.

He blamed many factors on Toyota's lack of form in the 2007 season: "I think the biggest factor was aerodynamics, as it can be developed even further," he said.

"Another important factor this year was that we failed to adapt to the change of tyres efficiently. Looking back over the season, we can see that our car was not hard enough on the tyres. It is better to be tough on the tyres and be faster.''

He continued; "Perhaps our car was too unstable because of the big change in downforce under braking, or we were too focused on aerodynamics and suspension design was compromised, and so on.''

Yamashina refused to blame drivers Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher though. Saying that; "We are not in the position to question our drivers' performances, because we couldn't provide them with the best cars."

"So, we will work and fight to make sure we prove ourselves in the 2008 season." He added.