Posted on March 09, 2008 by F1Wolf

Toyota is a prime example of the fact that huge budget only does not buy success. It did buy them the wrong Schumacher few years back . He however ”left” and has gone to try his luck in DTM, and so Toyota enters the 2008 season with a fresh face in the cockpit, Timo Glock, alongside the veteran Jarno Trulli.

Jarno Trulli – Italy
Born: 13 July 1974
In F1 since 1997 Minardi, 1998 – 1999 Prost, 2000 – 2001 Jordan, 2002 – 2004 Renault, 2004 – 2008 Toyota
Best Result: 6th in 2004
Career wins: 1
Pole positions: 3
Podium Finishes: 7

Jarno Trulli is one of the longest serving drivers on current F1 grid. He has been quite optimistic about the recent Toyota performance. But he somehow negated that optimism with his latest remark placing their car a full one second behind Ferrari. That would mean a position behind the midfield pack of BMW Sauber, Williams, Red Bull and Renault. Trulli’s strength has been the one lap qualifying, in 2007 he started only 3 races from outside the top 10 on the grid. To do that this year on regular basis will not be easy. Unfortunatelly for him, his race peformances lag behind his qualifying and way too often he casts himself into the role of moving chicane. It worked for him in 2004 in Monaco when he won the race. Will be inetersting to see if the removal of electronic driver aids will work for or against him.

Timo Glock – Germany
Born: 18 March 1982
In F1 since 2004 Jordan (test driver and 4 races), 2007 BMW Sauber (test driver, no races), 2008 Toyota
Best Result: 19th in 2004
Career wins: 0
Pole positions: 0
Point Finishes: 1 (7th place)

Timo Glock returns to F1 racing for the first time since his brief experience with Jordan in 2004. He spent the following years in Champ Cars (2005) and GP2 (2006-2007). He returned to F1 last year with BMW Sauber, as their driver. His biggest achievement so far is the GP2 title in 2007. Unlike his predecessor, 2006 GP2 champion Lewis Hamilton, he does not have the benefit of title contending car. His main target for his first full year in F1 therefore will be his team mate Jarno Trulli. To outscore Trulli however he will need to master the qualifying, on that turf Trulli is a formidable opponent.

F1Wolf’s prediction for Toyota drivers in 2008:
I see Trulli ahead of Glock thanks to his qualifying skills. Glock will eventually get close to Trulli later on in the season but if Trulli scores decent points early on in the season, we will stay ahead of Glock. Under normal race circumstances it is very unlikely any of these drivers will make it to podium this year.

2008 F1 Season – Team Mates – Ferrari
2008 F1 Season – Team Mates – McLaren
2008 F1 Season – Team Mates – BMW Sauber
2008 F1 Season – Team Mates – Renault
2008 F1 Season – Team Mates – Williams
2008 F1 Season – Team Mates – Red Bull