So what do we think of Toyota now?

[neilap]

Toyota was reliable and lucky, they scored points. Now with race number 11 coming up they still have not scored any more points. I doubt that in the coming years they will struggle this badly, in fact I think they will win championships. However many a misguided person has thought that Toyota would be schooling Honda at this point in the season. Well I guess not. I think they are just where I expected them to be. They can put a good lap in but not a race. Inexperience and a not so good car shows its ugly head at each event along with no better than mediocre drivers.

[Yoong Montoya]

Salo and McNish are both good drivers in my opinion. I think Toyota wanted a simple, reliable car for their first season instead of taking technical risks like Jaguar and BAR did in their first seasons. If Toyota build a good chassis for next year, they could be running at the front in 2003 or 2004. They have got a very good engine, it's just that they need a better chassis.

[BD]

I've been impressed. Before the season started I expected them to be where Jaguar is now. I was quickly proven wrong, but since their fantastic start, they havent improved much relative to the other teams.

[AndyF]

Was impressed early on in the season, and the team still has pace. Four straight DNFs so Salo has changed my mind a little.

[f1manoz]

Very impressive. The car has been reliable enough for a new car and it has also set some impressive times.

[Nicholas]

It's acceptable, but not amazing. Promising for next year though.

[Jack racer]

I think they have done great, they may be going through a flat spot but they are still doing better than some onther teams(bar,jag).

[NiceGuyEddie]

The beginning of the season was a bit too flattering. But for an all build-it-yourself they have impressed me with their reliability. On a good day, they are quicker than Jaguar and can match the pace of Arrows. So that is pretty OK. On their budget they need to improve big time, but Im sure they will.

[Valve Bounce]

Thye wqualified well at Silverstone, so I think they are not doing too badly. Can't say the same for Jaguar.

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[enemy-ace]

I don't think Toyota are under any illusions as to what it takes to be a winner. They are taking a consistent measured approach to their development and this year they have shown that with a good engine and a safe chassis. I expect them to build on that and become consistently better. I think where Toyota have shown Honda the way is in their approach to becoming an eventual winner. I think Honda have finally realized that. Becoming an engine supplier to one team and developing that teams car with their engine are good steps in the right direction.

[Nicholas]

They've been extremely thorough in their approach and have less excuses than Jaguar or BAR, so this is roughly what I'd expect at this stage. They're certainly going in the right direction.

[DNQ]

They've shown themselves to be competent, they havent made a PR fuss, they're were they said they'd be, and I applaud them for it. None of this BAR 'we can win the championship' or Jaguar 'we will win races' ****!

They'll be at the front within a year or two. This year has been good, maybe development has been a bit slow, but I think we're yet to see the best of them yet. Wait til we get to a few of the faster circuits.

[neilap]

The next race is pretty fast so was Canada. They are where I expected them to be. It was just a bit annoying (to Honda fans anyway) to hear statements that suggested Toyota was better than Honda on their first season. I feel building your own car is easier than just supplying motors. Ford is proof that a good motor and a **** chassis means failure. I cant speak of engine power because no one but Toyota knows how powerful their car is. At least all the hype is dying out now.

[BD]

I dont think even Toyota know how powerful their car is. There engine seems to be very powerful though
Due to their conservative approach, next year should bring them better results when they take more chances.
I dont know if its easier to build a car and motor compared to just building motors, but it does have its advatages. If Honda has to compromise their engine design to meet the specifications of the two teams, then surely they are at a disvantage.

[senna12]

I think they are right about where they said they would be. Ove made no big promises, and Gustav said he deliberately went conservative in his original chassis design.

I believe they have laid a good foundation. The engine is strong, so now it is time to get a bit adventurous with next years car.

The best part is, they have a Ferrari sized budget to get it done, so I think they will be successful.

[Jukebox]

It seems that most of you guys have nothing but positive remarks to say about Toyota. Well, i really do hope they won't repeat the same mistake as Honda did in their second year debut.

I remembered in the first year they entered F1 again, Honda clearly has the advantage in straight line speed and were faster than BMW but after the second year onwards they seem to slump deeper and deeper.

[Gt_R]

Failures such as Jaguar, BAR-Honda, etc will be motivation for Toyota not to repeat and strive to do well. They have the resouces and need to put it to good use.

That said, seeing how some mega-buck operations fail only make me appreciate teams like Ferrari, Mclaren, Williams and the men working the hell out behind the scenes.

[ljakse]

I believe that this year was just building up reliability for them, and that they're satisfied wuth the results. So, naturally, I would expect them, as said above, to experiment on speed in future.

[Valve Bounce]

I have a feeeling they will probably try to get a more experienced driver, one who has won races. Maybe Irvine.
When they aree better than teh Honda engined cars, they can say Toyota is better. When the Honda engined cars beat them, Honda cannot say we won, can they?? It's really time for Honda to have their own car. Let BAR and Jordan survive on Mugen engines.

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[neilap]

I dont see how BAR is a failure. They have been in F1 for 3 years. This year they should have made a step forward and that they have. However everyone has made bigger steps. Their average qualifying times are better than last year just not good enough.
I dont know if Honda needs to have a "Honda car". Williams and MacLaren do well as they are now. Honda will never be able to match funding with Toyota, being only about 1/3 the size. However with a Prodrive and Honda partnership, I feel success is possible.
I see Toyota becoming like Viacom and Microsoft. I feel they have the money to buy out anyone in F1. In CART the racing is more based on equal equipment not who has more money and for years they got their a$$es handed to them. From what I have read Sauber will be next to feel the power of Toyotas money. Anyone who feels Ferrari has an unfair advantage will be frightened by what they have at their disposal. Billions, not 5 nor 10 either!

[rollhoop]

I think they have done quite well for a team in its first year. NEXT year will be the stick by which they are measured though. If they have improved by this time next year, then I think praise will be due. With all the lesser teams who have taken a step backwards this year, it's hard to be excited by what is happening at Toyota. I wish them well but I want Honda to kick their a55.

[kmchow]

There was suggestions that Toyota might replace Alan McNish with Christiano Da Matta (currently leading CART championship). So what does this say about McNish? What do you think of those rumors?

[Jukebox]

I rate McNish as an equal if not better with Salo as there's nothing that great about Salo. When he drove for Sauber before joining Toyota he's rubbish.

McNish is too old and it's a bit sad to see him leave, but then replace Salo too. It'll be great if Da Matta joins them, he'll make Salo look silly.

[f1manoz]

The one thing going against McNish is his age. Compared to the rest of the grid, he's an old man, and no doubt Toyota will be eager to get a younger driver, or better yet a race winner alongside Salo for next season.

McNish has done well as a rookie this year, and has rarely made mistakes. More often that not the car has let him down. It would be a shame if he was dropped next year, but it may happen eventually. But at least he can say 'I was a Formula One driver.'

[neilap]

Plus Salo has raced in F1 before. McNish is having a trial by fire. Toyota knew he had put a lot aside just to test for them and help them develop the car. These things I feel pressured them into keeping AM. He was never really faster than Salo.
If Toyota wants to develop they should not get a CART driver just yet. I dont think Christian would be able to contribute much. If that is the case then they should keep Allan. I still think someone like Button or JV will be there next year. More like Button. At least he wont be asked to take a pay cut there.