F1: Toyota delay squad announcement

[Rory Phoulorie]

Thursday 6th September 2007

Toyota are in no hurry to name their 2008 driver lineup, according to the F1 team's president John Howett.

Italian veteran Jarno Trulli is likely to retain his seat with the Japanese marque, but Ralf Schumacher's current contract comes to an end at the end of the season.

Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock and Kazuki Nakajima are all thought to be on Toyota's wishlist.

But Howett played down suggestions that the team were in a rush to finalise their squad.

He told SPEEDtv: "At the moment we're fairly comfortable. We're looking and waiting to see what happens, whether there's any other movement in the driver market. It's a risk for us potentially, but we'll see."

The chief of the Cologne-based outfit also said that the lack of options in the market could work to Ralf Schumacher's advantage.

"He might be higher than a fall back position, depending on availability.

"There are other drivers who are not even on the list. At the moment we just feel we want to wait. For him it's a very uncomfortable position it's clear, I personally have quite a lot of sympathy for him.

"Probably by the end of the season we should have an idea of what we want to do."

Meanwhile Schumacher said that he was prepared to wait.

"I'm very positive," said the German.

"As soon as we have something to announce, we'll do it. There are opportunities, I don't want to go into that, and you just have to be patient. It might well take until the end of the year or whatever.

"Let's wait. Both sides are completely free to do whatever they like."


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