Schumacher sets sights on title

Ralf Schumacher has his sights set on winning the Formula One title with Toyota this season.

Ralf will be the only Schumacher on the grid when the new season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in just over two months’ time.

The retirement of brother Michael, the seven-time world champion, means the spotlight will now be on Toyota driver Ralf.

The 31-year-old is ready to face the new challenge in 2007, with the hope of not only scoring a maiden win with the team, but maybe even the greatest prize in motorsport.

“At the moment I want to win a race with Toyota, because the team deserves success for all the hard work they put in,” said the German at the launch of the new car, the TF107, in Cologne.

“Obviously the world championship is the main target for every driver, and I am still pushing for that. At the moment, it is the pleasure of driving an F1 car that gives me motivation. I am enjoying my job, and I am really enjoying being part of this team. I simply love what I am doing.

“I am only 31, and I am still motivated. If I wasn’t I would not be doing this job. I have found that working for a team like Toyota actually becomes more and more enjoyable, because I feel so comfortable here within the Toyota structure. I have always enjoyed my time at Toyota from the very start, but now I do so more than ever.”

After a miserable 2006 in which Toyota suffered with reliability problems, Schumacher believes the team can deliver a car to compete this season.

“I am optimistic,” added Schumacher, who is joined on the grid by Jarno Trulli in an unchanged Toyota line-up from last year.

“In most of the races in the latter part of last season we were a couple of tenths away from the top teams, Renault and Ferrari, on average over each lap. So the trend is clearly right. One factor in our favour is that we are the only team remaining constant in all aspects – from drivers to tyre supplier. That should work in our favour, as it gives us stability, while a lot of things have been changed on the car.

“We kept calm and sorted out the issues we had last year, so the signs are good. The team also has one more year of experience under its belt now, so we should be stronger. We seem to be heading in the right direction. We have the potential to succeed in the team, and I hope we can show that this season.”