Toyota has moved to quieten rumours that Ralf Schumacher will be dumped at the end of 2007 by insisting that the team will help its German driver through his current lack of pace.
31-year-old Schumacher has been comprehensively outshone by his teammate Jarno Trulli so far in 2007, leading some observers to argue that it is up to the beleaguered driver to adapt to his car in such a crisis.
BMW-Sauber’s technical director Willy Rampf, however, observed that it is not principally up to a top driver to change his style to suit a difficult race car.
“A driver must be able to work in a way that is comfortable for him,” Rampf told Motorsport Aktuell, “because only then is he able to perform best.”
Toyota team president John Howett agrees.
The Briton said: “We have to help Ralf and make the car more driveable for him.”
