Belgium: "The team robbed me of a podium"

By Nick Sparkes
September 12 2005

Jarno Trulli hasn’t had a bad word to say about the Toyota team all season, but the positive Italian has launched a scathing attack on his own team after a tyre decision during last weekends Belgium Grand Prix. The same mistake would also cost Ralf Schumacher the chance of victory.

The decision has also launched an on going debate here at Totally Toyota F1 after both Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher were brought in for slicks on a racetrack designed for intermediates. Both Jarno and Ralf would have to pit again straight after their stops after struggling to even keep their TF105’s on the road, with Ralf even spinning on his out lap trying to get grip out of his slicks. Jarno would later get involved in an accident with fellow Toyota engined Tiago Monteiro after the Portuguese driver accidentally operated the pit lane speed limited on the track. Ralf would later change back to slicks in the remaining couple of laps, setting the fastest lap of the race and taking seventh place and two useful points, a number which Jarno feels should had been higher.

Jarno told the Italian press; "The team’s decision to put on slicks at the first stop was a colossal absurdity," he was quoted saying in Monday’s Gazzetta dello Sport.

"With them, I could not even keep behind the safety car."

"I was fourth, in Alonso’s slipstream, and I lost a load of time and after that it was impossible to recover."

"The team robbed me of a podium because the car was going really well on this track. "I would have been on the podium, taking into account Montoya’s retirement."

Add your opinions and views on this situation by visiting the Totally Toyota F1 thread by clicking here.