Toyota boss urges Ralf to improve form

Schumacher is in talks with the team about a contract for 2008, and his hopes of securing a deal are believed to depend on him showing some better results in the next few races.

Toyota's vice chairman Tadashi Yamashina has made it clear that they are expecting more from Schumacher, who scored a point in Canada last weekend, and believe the German must help himself to lift his game.

When asked by autosport.com about whether Schumacher was under pressure to do better, Yamashina said: "Of course. Unfortunately he did not get results so I'm sure he himself is pushing. But even if I push him, he's the driver. I cannot make him faster.

"We communicate very well and I do push him. But I hope he will show better performance soon."

Adrian Sutil and Takuma Sato have both been linked with a drive at Toyota next year, with team insiders also believed to favour taking a young driver instead of Schumacher.

Yamashina has said, however, that no decision has been taken yet about their future plans.

"Looking at the current situation, McLaren have a young driver who is getting results," he said, referring to Lewis Hamilton. "Sometimes younger is better, but we are still analyzing the route we will take in the future.

"But Jarno (Trulli) and Ralf push themselves, and the combination of our driver's mindset and spirit, and the set-up of our car, has not combined well."