Jarno Trulli Q&A


By Toyota
October 22 2005

How would you assess your first season with Toyota? I'd give myself eight or nine out of ten. I think I raced well and qualified very well and always did my maximum out of the car as well.






What would it take to get a maximum score?
The last part of the season was not so good and I
had a few problems mid-season when I lost at least
three or four potential podiums. If I had achieved
those podiums I think I could probably mark myself
at 9.9. It's only 10 if you win the championship!

Have you been positively surprised by Toyota this season?
Moving to this team is the best thing I have done in my life. I found new
people with a lot of commitment, very hard working and really passionate
about the sport. I could never have expected such a high profile from this
team and such good performance in general from the car and such good
attitude. Starting the season so well I thought that if we were able to use
all our potential we were going to blow everybody away, but unfortunately
experience plays an important role in Formula 1. The resources are there
but we are still a young team and we have to learn to use them properly.
By mid season other teams had caught us up. It was a difficult end of the
season, I’d say, but nevertheless I was always fighting to qualify in the top
five positions. That was extremely good and I could never have dreamed
of doing that at the beginning of the season.



 What were the biggest issues to
overcome?
There were no big problems to be honest. The
team was new and we settled down quite quickly
together. The car was okay and the main problem
was bad luck in several races. Spa was a big disappointment, then in Canada with just seven laps
to go I had the brake problem when the podium was
there for the taking, at Nürburgring I could have
fought for a win if we hadn't had the problem
starting the car, and at Monaco I think I could
have been on the podium as well.

What would you say was your best race this
year?
It's difficult. Obviously when you get on the podium
it is a good race but I've done so many good races
this year that it's hard to pick out the best. At
Barcelona I had a very good race, at Spa I was
going very, very well, and then there was Malaysia
and Bahrain. Nurburgring and Canada would have
been good. The problem is that the result is important for the people but as a driver you have to analyse the
race. The result is just a number.

Where can Toyota improve? Is it just experience?
I think with research and development the team has been good but you can
always be harder working and quicker reacting. On the aerodynamics we can
be better too. It's important that reaction rates throughout the season get quicker
and quicker because although it's important to build a good car at the beginning,
it's also important to maintain strong development throughout the year if you
want to win the championship.




 After Japan though, didn't you praise the
new parts in time for China?
Absolutely. That's what's great and I really
appreciate that. It makes a driver feel good
when the team listens to him and reacts in
just two days. They couldn't have done more
than they did and that's the mentality that I
want and appreciate.

Why are you so fast in qualifying – is it instinctive feel for grip
levels?
I don't actually know! I think the car itself is extremely quick in qualifying.
But I think in qualifying I can sometimes produce a bit more than the others
because I am better able to use the new tyres. It is just small things and perhaps
only drivers who are as sensitive as I am to the car can find those limits.
I feel normal when I drive, I don't feel I am doing anything different,
but it looks like I am a little better.

Courtesy Toyota Media

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