Assessment: Toyota shines even without a victory!

Toyota is indeed the second strongest presence at the start of the 2009 season. In the constructor standings, firstly because they are in second place, but also because in two races, the drivers consistently bring back a 3rd and a 4th place.

This time, it’s Timo Glock who steps onto the podium, something that hasn’t happened since last summer. The Japanese team is therefore full of confidence and must now aim to dethrone Brawn GP.

Jarno Trulli – 4th:

« I am happy for the team. I had little luck this weekend because I missed pole position by a tenth, and I think I could have achieved a better result. It was a good and eventful race. »

« Then the rain came and the team decided to fit the TF109 with extreme tires, it was the most classic strategy. I was a bit faster but it wasn’t enough because the tires wore out after two laps. Timo was on intermediates at this stage which performed better. I was a bit unlucky on this point, but strategy is always easier in hindsight, and I don’t want to blame anyone. It’s just a shame to miss this podium, but it’s another very good result for the whole team. »

Timo Glock – 3rd:

« It’s fantastic to be back on the podium and I’m really happy for the whole team. It was a very tough race. I started from third place but found myself 8th at the end of the first lap. I fought a bit against the drivers in front of me in dry conditions. I opted for intermediate tires. It took a long time before the rain really came.

All the drivers were struggling with the extremes, but I was really quick and gained a lot of positions. When the rain fell, I still had to switch to extremes. When the red flag was brought out, I was very satisfied with the result.

Tadashi Yamashina – Team Principal:

« I am very proud of the team today for their efforts, as it is fantastic to achieve another podium. This shows how competitive we are this season. It was an extremely tough race for the team but everyone did their best and was professional, even in these challenging conditions. »

« We showed once again today that we are truly in the spotlight. I hope we can continue these very good performances at the Chinese Grand Prix. »