Secret Meeting in London to Next year Formula 1 teams

A secret meeting was held in London yesterday between FIA president Max Mosley and eight dissident teams to posting unconditional entries.

Scuderia, along with Renault, Toyota and the two Red Bull-backed teams have been the most vocally-opposed to Mosley's budget cap plan, claiming that the technical benefits signing up to it may confer on rivals would lead to a two-tier split in the sport. The move has been proposed by Mosley in a bid both to cut the cost of competing in the wake of Honda's 2008 demise and, as a result, bring in new blood to swell the grid.

Reuters claims that various sources have suggested that one compromise could see the entry list published incomplete, with some entries unfilled pending further talks.

The news agency also claims that a letter, from Mosley to FOTA president Luca di Montezemolo, admits that the level at which the budget cap is set could be massaged to start at a higher level before following a 'glide path' to the FIA's desired £40m limit in future seasons. That, however, could alienate some of the ten or so organisations who have lodged bids to join the grid under tight cost-capping measures.

Rumour: Timo Glock to replace Ralf Schumacher

Looks like Ralf Schumacher will soon be joining his famous brother Michael Schumacher for skiing in Switzerland as he won't be having his job for long.

Despite denying rumours, the talk is that Toyota has already started looking for possible replacements for Ralf Schumacher and has even started talking to some of the prospects. The name which tops thw list of potential replacements is that of Timo Glock, former Champ Car World series driver. He is currently leading the points battle in the GP2 series in Europe.

The younger Schumacher is hoping to bounce back to at least earn his first point this season in Canada where he has had some of his best F-1 results with a win in 2001 and a second-place finish to Michael in 2003.

But if his practice time yesterday -- one minute, 19.331 seconds, which almost was three seconds off Fernando Alonso's pace and good enough for only 19th best on the day -- was any indication, it might be best for Schumacher to not book any hotel rooms beyond next week's USGP in Indianapolis.

Ralf Schumacher - a downward spiral that continues to get worse

Ralf Schumacher’s former manager says he was “shocked” by the Toyota driver’s performance in the recent Monaco grand prix.

The 31-year-old, who is currently the subject of wild speculation concerning his immediate future on the grid, hit a new low in 2007 when in Monte Carlo he was outqualified by a Spyker and then struggled to overtake the orange cars in the race.

But Willi Weber, who negotiated Ralf’s expiring $20m per-year Toyota contract before they split, told Bild newspaper: “He finds himself in a downward spiral that continues to get worse.

“Monaco shocked me — that he hung around behind (Christijan) Albers for so long, seeming to not be able to do anything about it.
“It is not the Ralf that I know.”

Toyota to blame for Ralf trough - Howett

Toyota’s F1 team president John Howett has thrown a metaphorical arm around his beleaguered race driver Ralf Schumacher.

Mounting media speculation is predicting the imminent decline of former grand prix winner Schumacher’s formula one career, as he struggles at the wheel of the TF107 car.

Those rumours were not helped on Monday, when Toyota technical director Pascal Vasselon admitted in an official press document that Schumacher’s “general grip” problem at the recent Monaco grand prix was due to “no obvious limitation of one parameter” of the 2007 machine.

Toyota hint Ralf’s days are numbered

Ralf Schumacher's days with Toyota seem to be numbered after reports in the German press yesterday suggest his employers are considering other options for next season.

After his 16th-placed finish at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, German daily newspaper Bild reported Toyota team president John Howett is looking for a possible successor to the 31-year-old brother of seven-times world champion Michael.

In his three years with Toyota, Schumacher, who earns 17 million euros a year, has only finished in the top three on three occasions.

Adrian Sutil replacement for Ralf Schumacher?

Adrian Sutil has been touted as a possible replacement for the beleaguered Ralf Schumacher at Toyota.

Following a dismal weekend in Monaco, Schumacher has reputedly been given just two races to save his F1 career.

According to reports in the German press, the team have run out of patience with the 31-year-old and Sutil has been linked with a dramatic transfer from Spyker.

The unheralded Sutil has emerged as one of 2007's unlikely success stories.

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Jarno Trulli And Toyota Looking For Happier Times at The Monaco F1 Grand Prix After Woeful Weekend

Jarno Trulli is hoping to erase the memory of his pain in Spain by rekindling far happier times around the streets of Monaco.

Trulli was forced to retire from the Spanish Grand Prix with a fuel-line fault at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya 10 days ago as Toyota endured a woeful weekend.

The team's 100% reliability record this year was wrecked as Trulli departed the scene, followed later by team-mate Ralf Schumacher, resulting in Toyota's first point-less grand prix of 2007.

Trulli is now looking to turn back the clock to 2004 when he scored his maiden Formula One victory in Monte Carlo after qualifying on pole for Renault.

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