Toyota F1

Armed with the biggest budget for nearly half a decade, Toyota entered the Formula One arena in the 2002 Australian Grand Prix. Stunning everyone, the team managed to win a point in its very first race itself. With driver Jarno Tulli establishing himself as the forefront driver, a result of his podium finish, the first ever for the team, in 2005, Team Toyota is expected to break records soon. Being one of the only four teams, including Renault, Honda and Ferrai, who are manufacturers as well as suppliers of engines, and own a Formula One constructor of their own, Toyota has all the required foundations to be a winner.

In the 2005 season, drivers Trulli and Ralf Schumacher garnered 88 points in Constructor’s championship and finished fourth overall, marking this as the most successful season of the team so far. The fourth position was partly a result of Trulli bagging back-to-back second places in Bahrain and Malaysia.

The following season, the upward climb remained only during the first half, with the second yielding no points or wins. The downward spiral continued into the 2007 season, which ended with 13 points and with best position as a 6th place at Budapest and Indianapolis. In 2007, the engine supplying unit of the team entered into a deal with the Williams team, but none of the teams were able to impress that season.

2008 season is expected to be turning of table, with Timo Glock, GP2 Series champion, coming on-board. With traction control having been withdrawn, this season is pinned with a lot of expectations.