Ralf looking forward to new challenge

Ralf Schumacher doesn't expect Toyota to be winning races from the outset in 2005 but is looking forward to new challenges with his new team. Toyota has yet to score a podium finish but Schumacher is hopeful that once he is settled in with the team he will be able to do something about that.

Ralf Schumacher.

Photo by Toyota Racing.

"After a long period in a different team, going to a totally new place is a new challenge," he said at the launch of the TF105 in Barcelona. "But if everything runs to plan, from mid-season there should be an opportunity to get on the podium."

Toyota expects to mount a determined challenge in 2005 and Schumacher believes the team has what it takes. "They have very high potential, so it's a question of time and a bit of experience but I'm sure they will get to the top soon," he commented.

Schumacher moved to Toyota after six years with Williams as he regards the Cologne-based squad as the better option for the long-term future. "There are a lot of capable people at Williams but it's still a very small company," he said.

"And it all depends on two people basically -- on Frank (Williams) and Patrick (Head) and they are not the youngest any more and they don't have a manufacturer behind them as well financially. These days a lot of Formula One is about having finance power and I think Toyota is a far better option."

Schumacher will be teammate to Jarno Trulli and technical director Mike Gascoyne believes the Italian will be easier for Schumacher to work with than his previous teammate Juan Pablo Montoya. "Ralf had quite a prickly team mate for the last few years and he's now got a very unpolitical, very pleasant team mate" said Gascoyne. "I think that will help him."