15/01/2009
NEWS STORY
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What are your expectations for 2009?
Jarno Trulli: I expect Toyota to be competitive again. Beyond that I cannot say; we will have to wait and see what the first few races hold. I am a very confident person and I am always optimistic so again this season I have high hopes, but I know from my experience that whatever I say in the winter doesn't really count for much when the season starts - the important thing is what we do on the track. I hope I can fight for Toyota's first victory; that is my dream. Formula 1 is extremely competitive at the moment so I expect this season to be exciting and very interesting; I am looking forward to it.
Do you believe Toyota can win a race this season?
JT: I hope we can build on the progress we showed in 2008 and challenge for the team's first win. Formula 1 is a team game, you win and lose together, and Toyota did a very good job last year which allowed me to be competitive and fight at the front. I am full of hope for this season. You need to build strong foundations before you can win. It is like a house; you cannot start by building the roof. We have established the foundations and I believe we can build a winning team. In 2008 we made a huge improvement and took a big step in the right direction so I hope now this year we can be a top team. I am confident in my own ability so if I am given a competitive car I know I can deliver the results.
Are you happy to be racing alongside Timo Glock again?
JT: It's great to be working with Timo again this year. We had a lot of fun last year together and we achieved a lot in terms of improving car performance. We have a good relationship and I'm sure we will build on that this year. He's a fast driver and a nice guy so I'm looking forward to see what we can achieve this year. Timo and I are capable of delivering strong results if the car is competitive, so I hope we have the chance to fight at the front this season.
What is your opinion of the new regulations?
JT: It is a big change and whenever you make a change like this, it is impossible to predict how it will affect each team. Toyota has the capability to adapt to these regulations as well or better than any other team so I am hoping it will give us a good opportunity. You can say I am cautiously optimistic. One thing is for sure, there will be bigger gaps between teams next season and bigger fluctuations in performance. It was so close last year because we had a period of quite stable rules, but always when you make a big change, the grid is spread out more, so I expect that will be the case this year.
Will the new regulations make overtaking easier?
JT: They should make overtaking easier but that would not be very difficult as it was nearly impossible in the last few years! You had to be really committed and a lot faster to attack another car; it was possible and I did several good moves last season but it was far from easy. We won't know until we are racing in Australia if the rule change really works as they have planned but I can understand the logic and I hope it works. I really enjoy fighting on the track and it can be frustrating when you are quicker than the car in front but just cannot get past because the aero makes such a difference. Whatever happens, I do not expect overtaking will be easy because we are racing with the best drivers in the world and it can never be easy to overtake.
Are you happy with the return to slick Bridgestone Potenza tyres?
JT: I am very pleased to be racing on slick tyres again because they give more feel to a driver and they are much more fun to drive with than the grooves. I am very much looking forward to trying out a new set of slicks on a flying lap in qualifying; that will be great fun!
At 34, how would you describe yourself as a driver?
JT: First of all, I don't think in terms of age or how many Grands Prix I have competed in. They are just numbers and I am not really interested in numbers. The fact is, I love driving, I love competing and I love the challenge of Formula 1. This sport is the focus of my life and I am completely dedicated to it. Nowadays in Formula 1 the competition is so close and it is so difficult to get everything exactly right that you have to be totally committed if you are going to succeed. Being a fast driver is not enough now; a Formula 1 driver needs to be completely motivated and committed, and I am.
Is Formula 1 still a pleasure for you?
JT: Absolutely. I am having a lot of fun at the moment and I am really happy to be a Toyota driver in Formula 1. It is very rewarding to see the progress we have made and to feel part of such a positive change. Obviously, racing is more fun when you have a competitive car and you are fighting at the front so I enjoyed last season a lot, but it doesn't change my motivation because I am always fighting for the best possible result, whatever that is. We are looking strong and I believe, after all the bad luck I have had in the past, I am due some pay back!
What are your remaining targets in F1?
JT: I still have plenty of things I want to achieve in Formula 1 but my dream now is to win the first race for Toyota. I have now spent longer racing for Toyota in Formula 1 than any other driver and I have seen the huge progress that has been made since I joined in 2004. It has been a long journey and we have had ups and downs but we have never given up or lost faith. It was fantastic to be back on the podium again last year, as well as leading several races, and my target is to enjoy more of those moments.
What are your personal targets for 2009?
Timo Glock: This year I want to build on my strong first season with Toyota. That means continuing to score points regularly - at every race if possible - and finishing on the podium more often. It would be amazing to win the first race for Toyota in Formula 1. It was great to get a second place in my first full Formula 1 season but now I want to become a more regular podium finisher; I could get used to podium champagne! In terms of my own personal development, I was really happy with how things improved throughout last season; I have a fantastic working relationship with my engineers, my car crew and the whole team and I expect that to continue. As a driver I learned a lot about the team and the car and that will help me considerably when we are developing the TF109.
Are you confident Panasonic Toyota Racing has the potential for you to achieve your ambitions?
TG: Toyota's aim is to win and my aim is to win. I have no doubt we have the potential to achieve this target. In 2009 we will fight to win Toyota's first Grand Prix and I am sure we have the chance to do it. Since I arrived at Toyota I have been very impressed with the knowledge, the resources and the dedication at this team. Everyone is so professional and focused on succeeding, which gives me great confidence for the future.
How have you developed as a driver since joining Toyota?
TG: I learnt a lot last year, especially when it came to developing a car and adjusting a Formula 1 car to my driving style, and vice versa. I have always had confidence in my ability and in my speed but I knew when I joined Toyota that it is not enough to be ‘only' a very fast driver to succeed in Formula 1; you must also be very strong technically so you can appreciate the tiny changes we make to the set-up. I think it is clear to everyone that I am a quick driver; I scored 25 points and finished in the top 10 of the championship last year, ahead of several drivers who have won Grands Prix. Maybe it was not clear from the outside, but I have also developed a lot from a technical point of view and I believe I am much more capable of finding the perfect set-up and getting the best out of the car. The experience I had last year will be very helpful when we are working to get the best out of the TF109, with all the rule changes that have been made.
What is your opinion of the new regulations?
TG: It will be really interesting to see if they make overtaking easier. On paper it looks like it should be a bit easier to overtake but you never know what it will be like on the track until you are in a race situation. I think they have gone in the right direction by reducing downforce and bringing back slicks so I am excited to see what the cars feel like. I am happy that Formula 1 is returning to slick tyres because they are more fun for the driver. I have plenty of experience of slicks from Champ Cars and GP2, so I expect to be able to adapt very quickly.
Is the regulation change a big chance for Toyota?
TG: I think the big rule change is a huge opportunity for every team because we are all basically starting from scratch. I know the huge potential of our team so I am confident we will be strong with these new rules. Whenever there is such a big change, the advantage of the previous year's top teams is reduced quite a bit. We had a competitive car in 2008 so our first challenge is to ensure we do not lose ground to the teams behind us, but our focus is in front and we want to not only close the gap but also move into the top three or four in the Constructors' Championship. I am confident we have everything in place to do that.
You will be busy in the cockpit next year with the moveable front wing....
TG: I don't think there is room on the steering wheel for any more buttons! We already have quite a few adjustments we can make on the steering wheel, changing things like brake balance and engine mapping, so with another option it will be even busier. But I'm sure we will all cope fine. Having front wing options while we are driving is an interesting concept and I am looking forward to seeing what affect it will have. I am sure it will take a little getting used to, and we have to analyse how to make the best use of it. It gives us a lot of different options when it comes to set-up and in theory it should help the drivers in the race as well when it comes to overtaking.
Do you feel completely part of the team now?
TG: I have felt totally at home with the team pretty much since my first day. I have a great relationship with my race engineer, Francesco Nenci, and everyone else who works on my car, not to mention the rest of the team. It has been very easy to become completely integrated into the team and it is fun to work with them. There are some great guys here who are pushing really hard to get success and they know I am fighting to the maximum to give it to them. We really are a close team and that's very rewarding.
How positive it is for Jarno to be your team-mate again in 2009?
TG: I have a great relationship with Jarno so I'm very pleased we will be team-mates again this year. He's a great guy and a very talented driver so we have fun together but also I think we compliment each other well. It is really interesting to work alongside someone with all his experience in Formula 1 and I have learned a lot from him; how he develops a car, how he looks for the best set-up. Last year we worked together successfully to develop the TF108 throughout the season and we got some impressive results; I am sure we can do the same this year.
What are your thoughts entering your second year as third driver with Panasonic Toyota Racing?
Kamui Kobayashi: I'm really pleased to be continuing with the team and I'm looking forward to the challenge of developing the TF109. It will be another busy season for me because I will be racing in GP2 Asia and the GP2 Series as well as being third driver with Toyota but I am young and I love driving racing cars so it's no problem for me. This is an important year for me because I want to enjoy success in GP2 as this is the perfect stepping stone for a career in Formula 1. I don't know what the future will hold but I will fight all the way this year, never giving up and always giving everything I can.
How do you find life as a Formula 1 driver?
KK: It's great fun but it is also very tiring. I have to say, being a Formula 1 driver is not what I expected when I was a small boy because it is about more than just driving and working on the car; there are so many other tasks that I need to do. It's obvious to me now but when I was a young boy I just assumed racing drivers spent their days only racing cars! The time you actually spend driving the car is only 5-10% of the year. The rest of the time is taken up with training, team meetings for the development of the car, PR and various other activities. These are the things that make up the overall life of a Formula 1 driver. From a private point of view, nothing much has changed for me - except I am even busier than ever! As a Formula 1 driver for Toyota and a GP2 racer, there is plenty of work to keep me busy but I enjoy it.
What are your goals as a racing driver?
KK: The biggest thing for me is that no Japanese driver has ever been a Formula 1 winner so that is my ultimate dream. I know it would make the Japanese people incredibly proud if a Japanese driver could win races in a Toyota; that would mean a lot. But before thinking about that kind of thing, my priority has to be constantly improving and eventually earning a Formula 1 race seat.
What inspired you to start in motorsport?
KK: When I was very young I happened to see a TV commercial advertising karts for hire, and when I told my dad he agreed to take me along. So it started there with karting and immediately I enjoyed it so when I was in kindergarten my ambition was to be a racing driver. At that time I didn't think about being a Formula 1 driver or whatever; I just wanted to race cars. Actually, for a while I wanted to be a stand-up comedian and joined the comedy club at school, but I soon decided that racing was what I really wanted to do.
How is life within the Panasonic Toyota Racing team?
KK: It is a fantastic experience and it has really helped me develop as a driver. Working with so many experienced professionals, in all different fields, has expanded my knowledge and taught me a lot about the engineering behind a Formula 1 car. Seeing how dedicated and professional everyone is in this team really inspires me. Another benefit is that a lot of the guys at the team have worked with young drivers in the past and they are familiar with issues you face as a young driver adapting to Formula 1, so they have been really helpful.
Have Jarno and Timo helped?
KK: Having drivers like that working alongside you is very interesting and they do give me some advice, which I always try to take. I have learned quite a bit from Jarno and Timo; they have a great understanding of how to interpret the behaviour of the car and change it in the right direction. Also on the track, they know exactly when to push and when not to so there is a lot to learn from them and I am determined to do so. However, when we are working together the main discussion is about how to improve and develop the car because this is our main job.