3:13 PM
A Weekend of Milestones
**Without a doubt 2005 is turning out to be a milestone season for Toyota in Formula 1. The Spanish Grand Prix was a milestone in its own right, for three reasons: The team achieved its first ever “genuine” pole position and its first ever podium finish in Europe, and for the first time, too, set the fastest lap of a grand prix weekend in 2005, courtesy of Ralf Schumacher’s performance in Saturday’s second practice session.
Although Jarno Trulli took pole in his Toyota debut in Suzuka last year, it was helped by his running last in the session when track and weather conditions had improved. Our first ever podium in Europe bears importance as it emphasizes that our podium finishes in the fly-away races are no flukes. It also signifies Toyota’s capacity to respond to the competition – that we can fight back after a round of disappointment (in Imola). For many, the start of the European round signals a return to the ‘standard’ world order in F1, when pretenders or the simply lucky ones are exposed… and the podium in Spain helps prove our contender-and-not-pretender status.
On a lesser degree of a milestone, Spain witnessed Toyota’s first ever 3-4 finish, although our 2-4 in Bahrain remains our best finish to date.
**It was encouraging to see Toyota inch closer to Renault. From a broader perspective it can be seen that Fernando might have only been hampered by his tyres and the McLaren is pulling even farther away. But Toyota didn’t just stand still as regards development and reliability continues to be top notch – really top notch. Applauses aplenty for Ralf too, for finally showing a pace more level with Jarno and more worthy for the TF105.
**Scares/concerns from the weekend: Jordan’s Toyota engine failure and Mike Gascoyne’s low-key presence. Gascoyne didn’t even figure in any of the press releases and engine concerns were even compounded by that fire in Jarno’s pitstop. (There’s another first!)
**Towards Monaco: Expectations are high as ever with defending Monaco winner Jarno Trulli now driving for Toyota. Ralf isn’t that bad either – he had the pace to take pole in 2003 and set the second fastest time in qualifying last year though I think he has yet to be on the podium there. Toyota will be bringing ‘a radically new’ aero package specifically for Monaco, but this is the same for other teams. A bit of a surprise – but Monaco has actually been kinder than expected to Toyota. In 2002 Monaco saw one of Toyota’s best ever qualifying results then, a P9 and P10 for Mika Salo and Allan McNish. Allan was setting the pace through the practice sessions, battling it with then Renault driver Jarno Trulli. In 2003 one-time Monaco winner Olivier Panis unfortunately struggled, but Cristiano da Matta went on to finish just outside of the points in P9 after qualifying in P10. Last year Monaco was the scene to our only double points finish of the season: da Matta P6 (would have been P5 if not for the blue flag penalty) and Panis P8. It was admittedly a race of attrition, nonetheless I think the two Toyotas showed decent pace and of course outstanding reliability to score those points.
**Trivial Musings from Barcelona: Ironies
Isn’t it ironic how Toyota is now seemingly built around, or at least more focused on Jarno Trulli? Last year, Ralf Schumacher’s move to Toyota was about doing to the inexperienced, struggling Japanese-German team what big brother Michael did to Ferrari. Ralf is obviously not at the center of Toyota’s building up right now (it can also be said of Jarno) but Jarno still has more points, and seems to be very charismatic to the team (like Michael is to Ferrari) unlike Ralf who rarely figures in Toyota’s celebratory photo ops.
Rumor has it that Williams is considering Cosworth or Toyota power for 2006, in light of growing reports that BMW might be buying into Sauber. Ironic that Jenson might be moving to a team with uncertainties regarding its engine partner, when rumors last year suggest that Jenson was leaving BAR for not having sorted out its partnership with Honda.
