Toyota Boss Shows Support for McNish

Toyota president Ove Andersson has given Scot Allan McNish a boost after newspaper reports suggested that his race seat could be under threat at the Cologne-based team next year.

McNish has failed to score a point for the Grand Prix new-boys so far this year while teammate Mika Salo has secured two points-scoring finishes and a British tabloid suggested Toyota may make a move for a more high-profile name for next season.

But Andersson has defended McNish and said that it has been a baptism of fire for the 32-year-old.

"He hasn't been particularly lucky, but I think he has done a good job for us," Andersson said. "I guess it has been tough for him. We are new in Formula One and he is new as well, so it is not easy."

Andersson also admitted that Toyota's lack of experience meant that they were unable to help McNish through his rough spell and said that his partnership with Finnish driver Salo could help the whole team improve.

"We can't really help him very much," Andersson said. "If he came into a team with a lot of experience in Formula One they could probably help him more.

"We are in a situation, basically, where we have to rely on the drivers helping us. From the outside, from what I can see, it seems they (McNish and Salo) are working well together. I hope they will be able to help us but we also have to up our game, it is not only the drivers."

But despite backing McNish, Andersson refused to say whether he would be retained next season as Toyota aim to move their way up the grid.

"That I would not like to answer at this moment in time," Andersson said.