Toyota on the driver market - president

[The Stig]

Toyota's F1 president John Howett has admitted that the Cologne based team could be on the lookout to replace Ralf Schumacher at the end of 2007.

31-year-old Schumacher is enduring an abysmal season at the wheel of the TF107, and he found a new low in Monte Carlo when he qualified behind Spyker's Adrian Sutil in twentieth place.

It is well-documented that Ralf is coming to the end of his current multi-million dollar contract with his Japanese employer, but Howett has traditionally been the German's staunchest supporter.

But Briton Howett, who already has Schumacher's teammate Jarno Trulli under contract for 2008, told the newspaper Bild: "It is only professional that we observe the (driver) market."

Howett, though, insisted that Toyota is still working to help Schumacher overcome his difficulties with the machine.

"Of course it is frustrating, but to say that he is completely alone would be wrong. We must give him a better car," he added.

Reporters for the specialist magazine Sport Bild, meanwhile, say they overheard BMW teammates Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica discussing Ralf's alarming lack of pace on 'day off' Friday in Monte Carlo.

Nick asked Robert if he thought the 'Schumacher' name would still be a feature of the F1 grid beyond this year.

"I don't know," Kubica answered, "but the kind of money he makes at the moment definitely will not be there for him any more."

[Dare]

Stig,I believe theres going to be quite
a few drivers after Ralph's spot.Wurz
as been having a dismal year as well,
so I's say his spot may be up for graps\as well

Just hope Renault gives Fisi another year,but
if they do I'd be surprised

[cosworth151]

I think Scott Speed is on borrowed time, too. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets his papers after Indy. There are plenty of others out there, Tiago Monteiro for one.

[Wizzo]

Speculation about the flagging career of Toyota's Ralf Schumacher has continued to worsen.

Newspaper reports on Tuesday suggested that the former six-time grand prix winner, who qualified a dreary twentieth in Monaco last weekend, could be dropped by the team if he does not close up on the pace of his teammate Jarno Trulli over the next two races. 
 
Now, the German tabloid 'Bild' is linking impressive Spyker rookie Adrian Sutil - who sensationally topped a wet practice time sheet in Monaco Carlo last weekend - with 31-year-old Ralf's race seat.

Sutil's manager Karl-Heinz Zimmermann said: "After (Adrian's) recent performances, one or two team managers have enquired about his situation, but up to now there have been no negotiations.

"We are basically very happy with Spyker."

Former grand prix driver Christian Danner, however, doubts that Cologne based Toyota is about to "fire" Schumacher, who joined the team in 2005 on an annual retainer of about (US) $20m.

The German is quoted as saying by Sport-Informations-Dienst: "For Toyota, there is no alternative to Ralf, so I think he still has a future there."