Ralf Schumacher geared up for Toyota task

Ralf Schumacher claims he has a better chance of becoming world champion at Toyota than former team Williams.

The German left Williams after six seasons at the end of 2004 to join Toyota, who have struggled since making their Formula One debut in 2002 and scored just nine points last year.

The well-funded team have yet to claim a podium position let alone a victory or championship, but they have grand plans for the future.

With one of the biggest budgets in Formula One history behind them, Toyota have assembled a dream team of Schumacher, former Renault driver Jarno Trulli and technical whizz Mike Gascoyne, with the aim of establishing themselves at the top.

Schumacher has been so impressed by what he has found at Toyota, he claims the days of Williams dominating Formula One are a thing of the past.

He said: “It never worked out at Williams. It was time to move on. Here there is different pressure. It’s amazing to see the possibilities. It’s a totally new challenge.

“I think it’s unfair to say one is better than the other, I just agree a little more with Toyota.

“The team certainly doesn’t have as much experience but they have a lot of quality people. I was really surprised with how well they do work. It just takes some time.

“At Williams there are a lot of capable people there, but it is a very small company and it all depends on two people, Frank Williams and Patrick Head.

“They are not the youngest any more and they don’t have a manufacturer behind them. I think Toyota is far better.”

Schumacher voiced fears that Williams’ future is linked too closely to Williams and Head, whose partnership has guided the team to seven drivers’ titles and nine constructors’ titles.

He added: “I don’t think it will be a big problem for the next four or five years but there is still nearly 400 employees depending on the two of them.

“If something happens to one of them their job and their lives are in danger.”

Schumacher sees his move to Toyota as similar to brother Michael’s switch to Ferrari in 1996, when the Italian team were struggling badly.

Michael Schumacher moulded an ultra-competitive team around himself and was rewarded with five consecutive world titles.

Now Ralf is planning to drag Toyota to the top in a similar way.

He added: “I have patience and really it’s a long-term project anyway, three or four years. That’s what it takes.

“My main target is to be world champion and now I have the perfect opportunity in a young team. Rest assured I won’t give it away.

“It’s unrealistic to say we are going for wins in the first few races but things will change a lot.

“It’s just a matter of developing the car throughout the season. We have to catch up and get some good results from mid-season onwards.”