Analysis: First Podium Must be Toyota's Priority

The heat is on as Formula One stands by for the first new car launch of the season this weekend.

Few will be feeling it more than big-budget Toyota, who could be excused for pulling the wraps off their TF105 in Barcelona on Saturday with their fingers crossed.

The world's second largest carmaker, and Japan's biggest, has enjoyed little return so far on their investment after three years and rumblings are emerging from senior management in Tokyo.

Quite how much they have spent is a matter of conjecture, although some estimates put their annual budget at a stratospheric $400 million. At the same time domestic rivals Honda have had a dream year as engine partners to BAR, finishing second overall in the Championship but spending rather less.

Toyota vice president Akihiko Saito revealed his feelings when he drove last year's car at a promotional event at Suzuka in December.

"Driving a car like this is such fun," the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper quoted him as saying. "That's why I've been so frustrated this season. Next year I demand a podium finish."

Germany's Ralf Schumacher and Italian Jarno Trulli are both race winners but the new signings will still have their work cut out if Toyota is to do what BAR did last year and become the sport's most improved team.

In 2002, their debut year, Toyota were 10th overall. In 2003 and 2004 they were eighth. From 51 races, they have taken 27 points and no podiums.

Must Deliver

The 2005 car, which will undergo major aerodynamic revisions before the opening race in Australia on March 6, will be the first under the complete guidance of technical director Mike Gascoyne and he knows the score.

"It (the team) has to start delivering from the start (of the year)," he said at the end of the 2004 season. "There's absolutely no doubt about that."

The task will not be easy even if the car is a big improvement on what came before. The rules have changed this year - for engines, tyres and aerodynamics - injecting a note of uncertainty.

The sport is also still coming to terms with Ferrari's 2004 domination, the 'red wash' that saw Michael Schumacher win 13 of the 18 races and take a seventh title in the most one-sided of Championships.

BAR, who launch their car with Briton Jenson Button and Japan's Takuma Sato in Barcelona on January 16, were one of the few teams not found wanting after making confident noises at the start of 2004.

They said they would be fast and they were.

This time round, with Nick Fry in charge after the post-season departure of David Richards as team boss, they have to consolidate on what they achieved and not allow Williams and McLaren to steal a march.

BMW-powered Williams went into 2004 with their eyes on the title and ended up fourth with just one win, Juan Pablo Montoya's in the Brazilian season-ender.

They launch their car at Valencia in eastern Spain on January 31, after revealing their livery in Bahrain this Friday, with a determination to do better.

"The bottom line is that in 2004 we did not deliver," said team boss Frank Williams. "We made an inadequately good car. It was entirely our fault and we are determined not to make the same mistake."

"Technical change in Formula One helps the bigger teams and makes it more difficult for the smaller teams," added co-owner Patrick Head.

"But it's certainly an opportunity for all the bigger teams and the pressure is clearly on Williams to take that opportunity...and we're up and going for it."

Renault, third overall in 2004, follow on February 1 in Monaco. The French carmaker won the Monaco Grand Prix last year and the team is now under pressure to challenge for the championship.

Flavio Briatore's future as team boss could depend on how well the new car delivers.

"Every year he has reached all his targets," Renault F1 president Patrick Faure told reporters last October. "If in 2005 he does the same...I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be with us in 2006."

McLaren, a dismal fifth overall in 2004, did not have a formal launch last year and are likely to stay low key again. Sauber have cancelled their planned launch in Malaysia next week due to the tsunami disaster.

Red Bull Racing, who took over Jaguar after Ford decided to sell their Formula One interests, will reveal all at the southern Spanish Jerez track on February 7.

Briton David Coulthard will be one of their race drivers with either Austrian Christian Klien or Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi in the other car.