Q & A with Timo Glock
Thursday, January 15th 2009, 11:14 GMT
Conducted and provided by Toyota's press office.
Q. What are your personal targets for 2009?
Timo Glock: This year I want to build on my strong first season with Toyota. That means continuing to score points regularly - at every race if possible – and finishing on the podium more often. It would be amazing to win the first race for Toyota in Formula One. It was great to get a second place in my first full Formula One season but now I want to become a more regular podium finisher; I could get used to podium champagne!
In terms of my own personal development, I was really happy with how things improved throughout last season; I have a fantastic working relationship with my engineers, my car crew and the whole team and I expect that to continue. As a driver I learned a lot about the team and the car and that will help me considerably when we are developing the TF109.
Q. Are you confident Panasonic Toyota Racing has the potential for you to achieve your ambitions?
TG: Toyota's aim is to win and my aim is to win. I have no doubt we have the potential to achieve this target. In 2009 we will fight to win Toyota's first Grand Prix and I am sure we have the chance to do it. Since I arrived at Toyota I have been very impressed with the knowledge, the resources and the dedication at this team. Everyone is so professional and focused on succeeding, which gives me great confidence for the future.
Q. How have you developed as a driver since joining Toyota?
TG: I learnt a lot last year, especially when it came to developing a car and adjusting a Formula One car to my driving style, and vice versa. I have always had confidence in my ability and in my speed but I knew when I joined Toyota that it is not enough to be 'only' a very fast driver to succeed in Formula One; you must also be very strong technically so you can appreciate the tiny changes we make to the set-up.
I think it is clear to everyone that I am a quick driver; I scored 25 points and finished in the top 10 of the championship last year, ahead of several drivers who have won Grands Prix. Maybe it was not clear from the outside, but I have also developed a lot from a technical point of view and I believe I am much more capable of finding the perfect set-up and getting the best out of the car. The experience I had last year will be very helpful when we are working to get the best out of the TF109, with all the rule changes that have been made.
Q. What is your opinion of the new regulations?
TG: It will be really interesting to see if they make overtaking easier. On paper it looks like it should be a bit easier to overtake but you never know what it will be like on the track until you are in a race situation. I think they have gone in the right direction by reducing downforce and bringing back slicks so I am excited to see what the cars feel like. I am happy that Formula One is returning to slick tyres because they are more fun for the driver. I have plenty of experience of slicks from Champ Cars and GP2, so I expect to be able to adapt very quickly.
Q. Is the regulation change a big chance for Toyota?
TG: I think the big rule change is a huge opportunity for every team because we are all basically starting from scratch. I know the huge potential of our team so I am confident we will be strong with these new rules. Whenever there is such a big change, the advantage of the previous year's top teams is reduced quite a bit. We had a competitive car in 2008 so our first challenge is to ensure we do not lose ground to the teams behind us, but our focus is in front and we want to not only close the gap but also move into the top three or four in the Constructors' Championship. I am confident we have everything in place to do that.
Q. You will be busy in the cockpit next year with the moveable front wing....
TG: I don't think there is room on the steering wheel for any more buttons! We already have quite a few adjustments we can make on the steering wheel, changing things like brake balance and engine mapping, so with another option it will be even busier. But I'm sure we will all cope fine.
Having front wing options while we are driving is an interesting concept and I am looking forward to seeing what affect it will have. I am sure it will take a little getting used to, and we have to analyse how to make the best use of it. It gives us a lot of different options when it comes to set-up and in theory it should help the drivers in the race as well when it comes to overtaking.
Q. Do you feel completely part of the team now?
TG: I have felt totally at home with the team pretty much since my first day. I have a great relationship with my race engineer, Francesco Nenci, and everyone else who works on my car, not to mention the rest of the team. It has been very easy to become completely integrated into the team and it is fun to work with them. There are some great guys here who are pushing really hard to get success and they know I am fighting to the maximum to give it to them. We really are a close team and that's very rewarding.
Q. How positive it is for Jarno to be your teammate again in 2009?
TG: I have a great relationship with Jarno so I'm very pleased we will be teammates again this year. He's a great guy and a very talented driver so we have fun together but also I think we compliment each other well. It is really interesting to work alongside someone with all his experience in Formula One and I have learned a lot from him; how he develops a car, how he looks for the best set-up. Last year we worked together successfully to develop the TF108 throughout the season and we got some impressive results; I am sure we can do the same this year.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72783_________________________________________________________
Q & A with John Howett
Thursday, January 15th 2009, 11:32 GMT
Conducted and provided by Toyota's press office.
Q. What are the team's goals for next season?
John Howett - Toyota team president: The goal for me is clear: we want to win our first race. To put ourselves in the best possible position to fight for our first victory, we need to be consistently challenging for the podium and scoring big points regularly.
Q. Is the team ready to win?
JH: We are hungry to win and ready to win, there should be no doubt about that. The new regulations pose an extra challenge but at the same time offer an opportunity. We have everything we need to win; we have some exceptionally talented people and huge motivation to succeed so now it is down to us to actually make it happen.
Q. How would you characterise Panasonic Toyota Racing going into its eighth season of F1?
JH: I believe we are stronger than ever heading into the 2009 season. We have learned a tremendous amount over the past seven years and that has helped us become a more cohesive and consolidated team. Obviously we are much more experienced now compared to the team's early years in Formula One and that means we have an ever-expanding database of knowledge to give us a better understanding of what drives track performance. We are also a team which is constantly striving to improve in every area; this organisation is hungry to win.
Q. Is it good for Toyota to have a major regulation change?
JH: I believe the risks and opportunities associated with a major regulation change are the same for every team. There are no excuses; we have the chance to turn our potential into success if we do our job properly. But that is broadly the same every season. Overall I think the regulation change has a neutral affect when it comes to who succeeds and who doesn't.
Q. Are you happy with the driver line-up?
JH: We are very happy with both Jarno and Timo because they provide an ideal balance of experience and youth. It was very satisfying to see a strong spirit of co-operation between them last season and there is no doubt that played a part in driving our performance forward. We have two very quick drivers who proved clearly last year that they can qualify well, race hard, defend strongly and overtake, so we were delighted with their performances. In addition, they are fun to work with so that makes life easier for everybody.
Q. From a commercial sense, how secure is the team's future?
JH: Commercially this team has a very strong future. The key issue is whether Formula One continues to deliver the value and return on investment that Toyota expects. If it remains the pinnacle of motorsport and a genuine technological challenge, then I can see a long and bright future for the team.
If the sport is dumbed down too much, or too many standard components are forced into the system, Formula One could become just another racing series. That would leave it as only a sponsorship opportunity and I believe interest would drop rapidly. But FOTA has achieved significant cost reductions while retaining the DNA of Formula One and this is extremely beneficial in the current economic climate.
Q. How do the global economic problems affect the team and Formula One in general?
JH: The global economy affects everyone. Most sports will be affected in some form; that is inevitable when you have a global economic trend such as this. However, I believe Formula One is in a strong position because of its global reach. If a sport is focused on a very narrow geographical area, it will be very vulnerable in this climate but different regions are affected in different ways and to different extents so both Toyota and Formula One are, in my opinion, relatively less exposed to the risk. In fact, there is no reason why we should not consolidate or even continue to grow the popularity of Formula One in the coming years.
Q. How do you cope with being cost conscious without compromising performance?
JH: I think all teams are managing with fewer resources and that doesn't apply only to Formula One; it is happening across the board in motorsport. It is vitally important to have a detailed knowledge of what is driving costs, then you need to be able to prioritise the areas which bring value or performance.
In addition, a lean company must have a culture of waste reduction and constant improvement. Happily, these are all factors which Toyota puts particular emphasis on, even in prosperous times, so I am confident we are in good shape. The basic principles of the Toyota Way will help us pass through this difficult time and emerge a stronger and more competitive organisation.
Q. Are you happy with the cost-savings agreed in December?
JH: These are positive, decisive measures which will significantly reduce costs while retaining the DNA of Formula One and that was very important to Toyota. FOTA members worked hard to achieve this; there was a universal determination to make genuine progress through cooperation and constructive dialogue so we are satisfied with the process and the results. We are also delighted the FIA World Motor Sport Council acted quickly and positively to endorse the proposals.
Q. Considering the economic situation, what is your reaction to the long-term commitments of Panasonic and Denso?
JH: We have been very fortunate to enjoy tremendous support from long-term partners such as Panasonic and Denso. It is a partnership between some of the world's great corporations. We share very similar values and a passion for cutting-edge technology. Both Panasonic and Denso provide us with some of the most advanced technology available and they make a very real contribution to our success on the track.
We are delighted to extend our title partnership agreement with Panasonic, taking it up to the 10-year anniversary of our time in Formula One. We are honoured to have such loyal partners and long may these partnerships continue. In addition to this we are also able to attract new partners and this year we are very pleased to welcome Chiemsee to the team.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72785___________________________________________________________
Q & A with Tadashi Yamashina
Thursday, January 15th 2009, 11:36 GMT
Conducted and provided by Toyota's press office
Q. What are your targets for 2009?
Tadashi Yamashina - Toyota team principal: Our target this year is to try to win the first race for Toyota in Formula One. When I took over as Chairman and Team Principal in 2007 I stated my task for the first year would be to observe, for the second year it would be to improve and for the third year and beyond it would be to succeed. This is my third season so it is very clear for me - I want to see us win a race. Of course at every Grand Prix weekend we try to win but unfortunately we have not been able to do so until now.
For Toyota our objectives are clear at each race; we want to win and if that is not possible we want to finish on the podium. Toyota has a challenging spirit with very high ambitions so we must always aim high.
Q. Were you happy with the 2008 results?
TY: Of course I was happy to see such a big improvement on the previous seasons, and it was very satisfying to be back on the podium and the front row of the grid. However, we want more than this - we want to be fighting for wins and the World Championship. We had some great weekends but we must also remember the weekends where things did not go as well for us. The TF108 was generally a reliable car but still we lost quite a few points due to retirements and we cannot be happy about that. Our target is 100% reliability and we worked to develop counter-measures to move us closer to this target.
Q. Are you optimistic about the team's chances?
TY: I am always optimistic and I firmly believe we have a big opportunity this year. I have been impressed by the team's work on the TF109 and we already made great progress last year due to strong team work and good communication. Formula One is a very difficult challenge and, unlike when you develop a road car, every two weeks you are judged in front of the whole world. But this has made the team strong and I believe we are in a good position for this season.
Q. Do you believe you have the right drivers to succeed?
TY: I am sure Jarno and Timo are the right drivers for us this season. In my opinion Toyota has one of the best driver line-ups in Formula One and I am excited to see what they can do with the TF109. Both drivers proved last season that if we give them a competitive car they are capable of fighting with the best drivers in the world, so our challenge this year is to deliver a car which will allow them to do this more often. This is our goal and we will never give up.
Q. What about Kamui Kobayashi?
TY: I am very pleased to once again have Kamui as our third driver. He developed a lot during last year and he continues to learn and improve. I followed his progress last season in GP2 and GP2 Asia very closely; he had an exciting season, with some wins, but his results were not as good as I think he deserved. It is satisfying to have a young Japanese driver in Formula One with Toyota but Kamui knows he must work hard and continue improving.
Q. It is now over two years since you joined Panasonic Toyota Racing – are you enjoying the challenge?
TY: Challenge is the right word because succeeding in Formula One is not easy; that was clear to me very quickly after joining the team. This is a much more emotional job than anything I have experienced in the past because we experience such highs and lows together in a public environment 17 times a season. I really enjoy that aspect of Formula One.
Q. How emotional are you at the race track?
TY: Sometimes I am very emotional at the track and I think this surprises some of the team members. They are not familiar with seeing a Team Principal kicking things in the garage when races do not go well! But I get really involved in the racing and when we are doing well I am cheering in the garage. I think it helps motivate the team to see that their hard work is appreciated, and it shows that everyone in the team cares deeply about our performance. I hope there will be a lot more cheering in our garage this season!
Q. Does the team have full support from Toyota in Japan?
TY: The top management at Toyota Motor Corporation has encouraged us never to give up, so always we will fight to win. Even in this current economic climate, TMC is very supportive of our team and everyone there follows our results closely. We receive many messages of support from Toyota employees and Toyota fans around the world and this motivates us to push as hard as possible to succeed. It provides positive pressure and we like that.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72786__________________________________________________________________
Q & A with Jarno Trulli
Thursday, January 15th 2009, 11:13 GMT
Conducted and provided by Toyota's press office.
Q. What are your expectations for 2009?
Jarno Trulli: I expect Toyota to be competitive again. Beyond that I cannot say; we will have to wait and see what the first few races hold. I am a very confident person and I am always optimistic so again this season I have high hopes, but I know from my experience that whatever I say in the winter doesn't really count for much when the season starts - the important thing is what we do on the track. I hope I can fight for Toyota's first victory; that is my dream. Formula One is extremely competitive at the moment so I expect this season to be exciting and very interesting; I am looking forward to it.
Q. Do you believe Toyota can win a race this season?
JT: I hope we can build on the progress we showed in 2008 and challenge for the team's first win. Formula One is a team game, you win and lose together, and Toyota did a very good job last year which allowed me to be competitive and fight at the front. I am full of hope for this season. You need to build strong foundations before you can win. It is like a house; you cannot start by building the roof.
We have established the foundations and I believe we can build a winning team. In 2008 we made a huge improvement and took a big step in the right direction so I hope now this year we can be a top team. I am confident in my own ability so if I am given a competitive car I know I can deliver the results.
Q. Are you happy to be racing alongside Timo Glock again?
JT: It's great to be working with Timo again this year. We had a lot of fun last year together and we achieved a lot in terms of improving car performance. We have a good relationship and I'm sure we will build on that this year. He's a fast driver and a nice guy so I'm looking forward to see what we can achieve this year. Timo and I are capable of delivering strong results if the car is competitive, so I hope we have the chance to fight at the front this season.
Q. What is your opinion of the new regulations?
JT: It is a big change and whenever you make a change like this, it is impossible to predict how it will affect each team. Toyota has the capability to adapt to these regulations as well or better than any other team so I am hoping it will give us a good opportunity. You can say I am cautiously optimistic. One thing is for sure, there will be bigger gaps between teams next season and bigger fluctuations in performance. It was so close last year because we had a period of quite stable rules, but always when you make a big change, the grid is spread out more, so I expect that will be the case this year.
Q. Will the new regulations make overtaking easier?
JT: They should make overtaking easier but that would not be very difficult as it was nearly impossible in the last few years! You had to be really committed and a lot faster to attack another car; it was possible and I did several good moves last season but it was far from easy.
We won't know until we are racing in Australia if the rule change really works as they have planned but I can understand the logic and I hope it works. I really enjoy fighting on the track and it can be frustrating when you are quicker than the car in front but just cannot get past because the aero makes such a difference. Whatever happens, I do not expect overtaking will be easy because we are racing with the best drivers in the world and it can never be easy to overtake.
Q. Are you happy with the return to slick Bridgestone Potenza tyres?
JT: I am very pleased to be racing on slick tyres again because they give more feel to a driver and they are much more fun to drive with than the grooves. I am very much looking forward to trying out a new set of slicks on a flying lap in qualifying; that will be great fun!
Q. At 34, how would you describe yourself as a driver?
JT: First of all, I don't think in terms of age or how many Grands Prix I have competed in. They are just numbers and I am not really interested in numbers. The fact is, I love driving, I love competing and I love the challenge of Formula One. This sport is the focus of my life and I am completely dedicated to it. Nowadays in Formula One the competition is so close and it is so difficult to get everything exactly right that you have to be totally committed if you are going to succeed. Being a fast driver is not enough now; a Formula One driver needs to be completely motivated and committed, and I am.
Q. Is Formula One still a pleasure for you?
JT: Absolutely. I am having a lot of fun at the moment and I am really happy to be a Toyota driver in Formula One. It is very rewarding to see the progress we have made and to feel part of such a positive change. Obviously, racing is more fun when you have a competitive car and you are fighting at the front so I enjoyed last season a lot, but it doesn't change my motivation because I am always fighting for the best possible result, whatever that is. We are looking strong and I believe, after all the bad luck I have had in the past, I am due some pay back!
Q. What are your remaining targets in F1?
JT: I still have plenty of things I want to achieve in Formula One but my dream now is to win the first race for Toyota. I have now spent longer racing for Toyota in Formula One than any other driver and I have seen the huge progress that has been made since I joined in 2004. It has been a long journey and we have had ups and downs but we have never given up or lost faith. It was fantastic to be back on the podium again last year, as well as leading several races, and my target is to enjoy more of those moments.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72782
