F109 Countdown: Toyota

Toyota:
2008 Results
Best Finish: 2nd (Timo Glock at the Hungarian Grand Prix)
Points Scored: 56
Championship Position: 5th
2009 Drivers: Jarno Trulli & Timo Glock

Last year Toyota finally looked to have turned a corner. After an impressive 2005 season, the Japanese giant has been in the doldrums. Hopes are high that they might actually achieve something this year.

They haven’t been shy about talking up the TF109. Granted, that probably isn’t anything new for Toyota who have talked the talk, but rarely walked the walk. More often than not, early promise has faded into mid-field obscurity.

In 2008, the team appeared to buck the trend. A podium a piece for their drivers was bolstered by a season long ability to score points. Only five times last year did Toyota not have at least one of their drivers in the points. At this stage, Toyota needs to perform. With Honda’s pullout, many eyes rest on Toyota as the next to pull the plug. Recently, the team has stated that they were close to a similar decision.

Toyota is entering its eight year of Formula One. Yet, we still wait for them to do something noteworthy. Pole positions and podiums are all well and good, but everyone remembers the winners. Given the success Toyota has found in Nascar, I’m surprised they haven’t focused more of their efforts on that side of the Atlantic.

Like the majority of teams, Toyota has chosen to retain both Trulli and Glock. I figured Trulli was on the chopping block at the start of last year. Instead, the Italian shocked everyone with some great early season runs. It was the sort of performances that we rarely see from him. Too often, he goes to sleep mid-race, showing only glimpses of the raw speed he has.

Then I realised, his contract was up at the end of 2008. It seemed like once he was more or less assured to stay with the team, the old Jarno returned. Maybe Toyota needs to threaten him with the sack before every race to get the most out of him.

With Timo Glock, Toyota has an aspiring star that has the potential to make it big. His early season struggles were soon forgotten as he found his feet at the top level. By the end of the season, he was regularly beating his vastly experienced team-mate. His podium at Hungary was not a case of good fortune, but on the skill of the German.

If Toyota has a car that is competitive, maybe, just maybe, they will finally break their duck and win that first race. It’s time to put up, or shut up.