Toyota: We are in no rush to name drivers.

Despite speculation that it would confirm Ralf Schumacher as one half of its 2005 line-up ahead of this weekend's European Grand Prix, Toyota's F1 team remains steadfast in its silence.

The Nurburgring race is the closest event to the team's Cologne base, prompting the rumours that Schumacher - who has supposedly inked a ?15million deal - would be unveiled, but team boss Tsutomu Tomita insisted that no announcement would be forthcoming until later in the year.

"I know of the existence of some rumours about the replacement [of the current drivers] in the middle of this season," he said, misunderstanding the timescale being discussed, "but we are very satisfied with the current pairing, and have no mind to replace them. We are confident with them.

"And, talking about next year's driver line-up, we are now investigating and no decision has been made yet. It will be announced in the summer - as other teams regularly do. The [current pairing] have two-year contracts from last year, and that means that the termination will be made by the end of this year. Both drivers have options for next year."

Schumacher has long been linked with a Toyota seat, following the breakdown of relations with current employer Williams. However, the German too was giving nothing away when questioned at the Nurburgring.

"We are still talking, still waiting for what is happening in our team, and then I will see what the outcome is," he said on Thursday, "I am quite sure that I will be in Formula One, but obviously not [sure] where."

With Olivier Panis now the oldest driver in the F1 field, and team-mate Cristiano da Matta rumoured to be unhappy with his time in F1, there could be two seats at Toyota next season - although the team has previously admitted that it made a mistake in replacing both its drivers when bringing in the current pairing at the expense of Allan McNish and Mika Salo for 2003. Reserve driver Ricardo Zonta, who regularly out-paces the race pairing in Friday practice, could be in line to partner Schumacher - or whoever the team finally decides to announce.