"It was good to have the chance to test in Sepang, so we could find out how the car behaved in the heat, how the temperatures affected the tyres, and so on," he said, "The test was also very useful for me personally to acclimatise to the conditions. The circuit is very interesting, but has a very different character to Melbourne, and I hope that we will be as strong in Malaysia as we were in Australia. After retiring from the race in Melbourne, the most important thing for me is to finish this time around and to collect some points."
Motorsport director Mario Theissen claims that the team has 'analysed the shift problem in Robert's car and implemented the relevant measures' ahead of what is the team's second 'home' race thanks to the heavy involvement of Petronas.
Toyota – Ralf Schumacher (#11), Jarno Trulli (#12):
After surprising most people with its point-scoring start to the season, Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to the Malaysian Grand Prix confident that it may have turned a corner and be on course for another positive result. Ralf Schumacher scored the eighth place finish that opened
Toyota's account in Australia, but the result could easily have gone team-mate
Jarno Trulli's way as early performance worries were put aside.
"We made a reasonable start to the season with my point in Australia, but we want to be more competitive and, hopefully, the work we did at our test last week will move us closer to the front," Schumacher commented, "I am optimistic we can be fighting for more points this weekend. “Compared to Melbourne, the conditions in Malaysia are completely different but I like the circuit, as there are some opportunities for overtaking there and it is a new track so the facilities are really great. I have had some good races there and I am hoping for another this year."
Trulli battled an ill-handling car in Melbourne, but is hopeful that the testing programme will provide him with a more competitive machine in Malaysia.
