Jarno Trulli and
Timo Glock will remain at Toyota in
Formula 1 in 2009, paddock whispers claim, with the big budget Japanese manufacturer currently enjoying its best form for three years.
Between them, Trulli and Glock have delivered Toyota 23 points over the first eight races of the 2008
F1 campaign – ten more than the Cologne-based outfit registered last season in total, and putting the team within a whisker of fourth spot in the constructors' title chase approaching this weekend's British Grand Prix, a height it has not scaled since 2005.
What's more, Trulli's gritty podium finish in France just under a fortnight ago was
Toyota's first since
Ralf Schumacher ascended the rostrum in the Australian Grand Prix back in 2006, almost a full 27 months earlier.
The improvement in both performance and results has been put down to a strong relationship between the Italian – who joined the squad in late 2004 – and his young team-mate Glock, who replaced Schumacher for the 2008 season.
“We have never had such good harmony within the team,” team manager Richard Cregan is quoted as having enthused by Swiss newspaper
Blick. “Finally both drivers are rowing in the same direction.”
Blick claims that Trulli already has a deal in place for next year, adding that Toyota is likely to exercise its contractual option to similarly retain Glock.
The reigning GP2 Series Champion, meanwhile, has insisted the fact that he has been generally out-paced by his experienced team-mate this year is not a cause for concern for him – adding that he hopes to be crowned world champion by 2010.
“I have two options only,” the 26-year-old told German sports magazine
Sport Bild, “either moan about it or accept the challenge and fight.”
