Struggling Toyota driver Ralf Schumacher is not confident that his current lack of pace will be fixed in the very near future.
The German veteran, who is competing in his eleventh consecutive season of formula one racing in 2007, this week insisted that he will “move forward” this season despite currently not getting to grips with the TF107 racer.
But although he does not have a contract beyond 2007, he now says that he is unlikely to look any quicker when the season emerges from a three week break at the Spanish grand prix next month.
Like most teams, Cologne based Toyota intends to unveil a fairly major car update for the Barcelona event.
But the German news agency ‘sid’ quotes 31-year-old Schumacher as saying: “The problem will go on for me for quite a while.
“The changes that we will make for Barcelona will probably not help all that much. This problem is not just going to disappear overnight.”
BMW’s Mario Theissen, who worked with Schumacher at Williams between 2000 and 2004, lamented the reports that this season could be Ralf’s last on the grid.
He said: “This is of course not a happy situation, neither for Ralf or for his team.”
Christian Danner, meanwhile – a former formula one driver who contested 36 races in the 80s – said it is up to Schumacher to help to improve his career crisis.
“If the car does not suit his driving style then Ralf will have to change,” the German said.
