Ralf Schumacher has given a more shining appraisal than his teammate Jarno Trulli about their new Toyota.
Italian Trulli is quoted as lamenting the TF107’s numerous reliability problems so far and therefore stopped short of evaluating its competitiveness after a few tests.
31-year-old Schumacher, however, is putting on a braver face, leading one German publication to wonder whether the 2007 Cologne-built single seater is a ‘Top oder Flop?’ (Top or Flop).
“The car is okay, but we still have some work to do,” the German said, amid paddock rumblings that Toyota is struggling notably with the rear of the machine.
Toyota is this year targeting its first grand prix win after entering the sport in 2002.
Ralf continued: “I think we should be more competitive than last season.
“The car feels better, it has a better balance and works better for the tyres,” he told the German newspaper ‘Express’.
“It is really still too early to say, but I have the feeling that this car is a good one.”
The TF107 is due to receive significant bodywork updates for this week’s Barcelona test and then at the final pre-season session in Bahrain prior to the season opener.
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
