Cristiano da Matta aims for Toyota podiums

The one on the left
By Site Staff (06/03/03)
March 6 2003

New Toyota signing Cristiano da Matta has been speaking to the BBC about his aspirations for the 2003 season. It seems that a podium finish this year would mean more to him than a win in CART !

Cristiano is joined at Toyota by the experienced and respected Olivier Panis, and the entire team have been bouyed by the apparent competitiveness of the new Toyota F1 car, the TF103. In addition to sharing knowledge and information with his team mate, da Matta has also stated that he will also be learning off fellow ex-CART champion and Williams F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya.

"In CART I was going into every race thinking I could win the race, or fight for the win," da Matta has been quoted as saying on the BBC website. "Here I think now maybe if I get a podium position it would mean more than a (CART) race win for me."

... and where does Montoya help ? "We will be exchanging a lot of information," the Brazilian revealed. "But not so much about driving because the difficulties that I have are all unknown to him because he has been doing it for so long."

"But there are other aspects that I will be having serious chats with him [Montoya] about," added the Brazilian. "I am very willing to listen." But will Montoya be prepared to tell ?

Cristiano da Matta takes to the competitive F1 track this Friday during the first practice session at Melbourne.