McNish Unsure about New Toyota Drivers

Scot Allan McNish is unsure Frenchman Olivier Panis can bring what the Toyota Formula One need to succeed next year.

The veteran Frenchman and Brazilian Cristiano da Matta will replace Scot McNish and Finn Mika Salo at the Japanese squad, who last season made their Grand Prix debut and scored two points on their way to tenth position in the Constructors' Championship.

McNish is still surprised the Cologne-based outfit decided to oust them and is not sure the new driver pairing will help Toyota succeed in 2003.

"I really don't know what Panis can bring to the team," McNish told The Sun newspaper. "Da Matta is more high-profile because he has just won the CART championship but only time will tell whether he can do it in F1."

32-year old McNish failed to score any points in his rookie season and missed the final race of the year in Japan after a massive accident in qualifying. The Scot says he is convinced he would have done a better job in 2003.

"Your first year in F1 is always the most difficult and I know I would have been even better next season," he said. "I spent all last year testing for the team so they could be up and running for the start of this season - and although I failed to score a point I still feel I did a good job overall.

"Motor racing is a risky business on and off the track and I always knew when my contract finished I could be told I was no longer required. But it still came as a surprise. It may hit me even harder when the season starts in Australia next March and I am no longer part of it. Never having sat in an F1 car would be a lot worse than what's happened to me."

McNish is yet to announce his plans for 2003, but he is believed to be looking for a seat in the Indy Racing League following a test with the Penske team.