The Team
Toyota were keen to move forward in 2006, but it didn't happen.
At the opening race in Bahrain, Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli struggled for pace, only being able to finish a dismal 14th and 16th respectively.
Ralf claimed eighth place and third place at the following two races in Malaysia and Australia. But the podium finish was to be the team’s last top-three result of the season.
This disappointing start led to internal strife within the team and eventually technical director Mike Gascoyne packed his bags and left in April.
He has since been outspoken in his belief that Toyota will never get a grip on the demands of F1.
Toyota's results did improve around the mid-season mark, in qualifying at least. But in races they were plagued by technical and mechanical problems.
The TF107 needs a big 2007 season to prove critics wrong and to avoid questions about how long they can defend pouring money into its so far under achieving team. Though as testing has shown there is still great room for improvement
Ralf Schumacher
Ralf Schumacher’s 2006 season saw him have the upper hand over his teammate Jarno Trulli. But this was due more with Jarno's unreliability than with Ralf out performing him.
In fact, the only thing about Toyota's season that was tremendous was the team’s spending capability.
Only bagging 20 points all season and one podium finish, made 10th place very disappointing for Ralf.
As for whether 2007 will be any better for him remains to be seen as in testing he has out shone his teammate but the TF107 still hasn’t the pace to cope with the top flight.
Jarno Truli
Jarno Trulli remains with Toyota for a third season. In 2006 he struggled to score points in the first half of the season due to reliability issues and his head seemed to drop. His first points only came in round nine at the Canadian GP.
This was followed by an uncharacteristic charge from 22nd to fourth at the U.S G.P and these were the sole highlights of a forgettable season for him, finishing the year in only 12th place on 15 points.
He will need to produce far more in 2007 if he is to stay at the sharp end of F1.
Jarno is equally capable of staging a surprise revival, or fading into the shadows.
But if Toyota can finally produce a world-beating car, expect Trulli to do magnificent things with it.