Toyota expections too high - R. Schumacher

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080116092138.shtml

in 2007. And for the 2008, team boss Tadashi Yamashina said of 2008, "Our drivers should be aiming to finish in the points regularly and challenging for the podium."

IMO, he need not to wonder why he can not find a F1 seat in the 2008 season, if he thinks these types of goals set by the team is too high.

 

That Toyota hasn't built a competitive car the only way they will ever be in the points is if the other teams don't show up for the race. So on one hand I understand what the Toyota boss says but I also understand what Ralf is saying as the Toyota car is a slow pile of stuff.

 

Today's testing times:

Pos Driver......Team......................Time.......Laps
1. Glock........Toyota...................1:19.799...96*
2. Hamilton....McLaren-Mercedes...1:20.099...73*
3. Alonso.......Renault..................1:20.363...49
4. Bourdais....Toro Rosso-Ferrari....1:20.407...51
5. Massa.......Ferrari ...................1:20.500...85*
6. Kovalainen..McLaren-Mercedes...1:20.535...79*
7. Kobayashi...Toyota..................1:20.577...53
8. Raikkonen...Ferrari...................1:20.646...88*
9. Nakajima....Williams-Toyota ......1:20.758...57
10. Sutil.........Force India-Ferrari....1:21.705...71
11. Webber.....Red Bull-Renault.......1:22.275...53
12. Coulthard...Red Bull-Renault......1:22.581...54*
13. Hulkenberg..Williams-Toyota......1:24.023...65
14. Vettel........Toro Rosso-Ferrari...1:24.873...50

 

To bad they won't get the fastest laps of testing period as Ferrari have already lapped faster... I am not just talking about today either, Toyota hasn't been competitive in F1 for years and I dont' care who is driving. Toyota makes a great reliable car, I own two, but they are not competitive in F1.

1. Alonso Renault (B) 1:19.503 70
2. De la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:19.650 111*
3. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:19.708 90*
4. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:19.756 81
5. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:19.772 85*
6. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:19.780 130*
7. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:20.305 86
8. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:20.346 76
9. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:20.392 80
10. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:20.526 66
11. Glock Toyota (B) 1:20.598 109*
12. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:20.764 76
13. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:22.060 55

 

Bye Ralf.... just go away

 

These times are from yesterday the 15th. The times I posted are from today the 16th. Conditions change. Air temp, track temp, wind speeds. Judging from your posts (not only this but past as well) you seem to have a distain for Toyota F1.

 

Look at testing results from Prost back in 2001/02. Testing times don't mean crap.

 

I also do not put a lot of stock in testing times, as it often just shows the fastest lap time by one driver on one particular day.

It doesn't matter how competitive a car is or is not, a driver has to have the right attitude toward his team and his participation as part of the elite F1 community. Did Senna ever give up just because his McLaren-Ford was crap ? Did M. Schumacher ever give up just because his Jordan or his 1996 Ferrari was not competitive ? Not only that they didn't, their attitude and dedication also made their team worked harder and thus makes the team better with time. There is a simple reason why AS and MS are considered to be one of the greatest of all-times, and it is certainly not because they quit on their teams or by thinking about not scoring or not winning races when they are out on the track.

 

Ralf Schumacher has said the pressure and expectations of success at Toyota were immensely and increasingly high in 2007.

The 32-year-old has failed to secure another seat on the grid after a disappointing three year tenure at Toyota, where despite impressive annual budgets the Japanese team has struggled to break out of the midfield since debuting in 2002.

Um, isn't this the brother of the driver who spearheaded the return to greatness a little Italian outfit by the name of Ferrari? Does Ralfie even know the meaning of the words "pressure" and "expectations"?? What a chub. Go home, enjoy your well-earned millions and keep pretending your marriage is legit.

 

What's the deal with his marriage?

 

+1

IMO, that's the difference between having to work and learn how to setup your own Kart as oppose to have your older brother doing all the work for you.

 

I don't have disdain for Toyota, they have been in F1 for a long time now, they have yet to be any good, this year will be the same, mid pack at best, and they just don't have it... You can say what you want now but come the middle of the season we'll see who is right and if we look back for last ten years the chances of them being on the podium is 0. Now I am not saying that Ralf is a great driver, lord knows he is not, he's a mid pack guy in my opinion as well, but let's face it, in F1, Toyota sucks.

 

You seem to have a very selective memory. Never been any good you say? I certainly wouldn't with two poles, five podiums and fourth in constructors' championship in 2005 their 4th year in F1. Take a look at BAR Honda's fourth year and tell me who's got the better record? Oh, and one of those podiums was a 2nd place for Jarno in Bahrain. So as far as your odds of them being on the podium being 0 if we look back the last 10 years, I'd say stay away from the odds makers as you probably wouldn't fair very well.

Today's testing is a good sign. They've got a brand new car that they're still sorting out so I'd say topping the time sheets is certainly good for moral at the team if nothing else. As we all know testing times really don't mean a whole lot but it does mean something.

 

+1

 

Why Ralf? Because they expected their $20 million driver to perform better than their $10 million one?

 

Toyota expectations too high – Schumacher
“Toyota always said 'we will win!', but that did not happen”

and what did ralph Said through all his F1 career...

March 2007

"I definitely count myself among the three strongest drivers in the world. Certainly (Fernando) Alonso and (Kimi) Raikkonen are fast, but I don't have any reason to hide behind anyone. If I weren't convinced of my abilities, I wouldn't be in Formula One."Ralf Schumacher - Toyota driver.

 

Quote:
"You seem to have a very selective memory. Never been any good you say? I certainly wouldn't with two poles, five podiums and fourth in constructors' championship in 2005 their 4th year in F1. Take a look at BAR Honda's fourth year and tell me who's got the better record? Oh, and one of those podiums was a 2nd place for Jarno in Bahrain. So as far as your odds of them being on the podium being 0 if we look back the last 10 years, I'd say stay away from the odds makers as you probably wouldn't fair very well. "

A fourth in the WCC in 2005, two poles and five podiums... You have proven my point, in F1, Toyota sucks. How many podiums have BMW, Mercedes, and Ferrari had in the last 4 or 5 years? How may years did Ferrari compete before they matched this Toyota feat? Maybe the first year? Toyota in F1 and Nascar are not competitive.

 

Every driver on the F1 grid should think he has a chance in the right car.

 

I'd imagine that over the course of the testing seasons the average placements correlate rather well with the final outcome of the constructors.

 

With how incredibly deep the F1 field is currently even being 5th or 6th could be impressive. To compare F1 now to F1 in the 70s or 50s is simply absurd.

 

+1

 

You can THINK your team or your car sucks, but to actually SAY it publicly is stupid, not to mention career suicide...

Oh - wait - it's Ralfie.... what else would we expect ?

PS can you think of any athlete in any sport that verbally says their team sucks - AND is still on that team ?