Panis confident Toyota will keep form

The latest generation of tyres from Bridgestone, allied to developments made to the TF106B, helped Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher put in their most competitive showing of the year at Magny-Cours until they both hit trouble.

Trulli was forced to retire with brake problems, while Schumacher lost time with a wheel nut problem at his first pitstop. He still managed to finish fourth though.

Following an encouraging test at Jerez in Spain this week, Panis is confident that Toyota are set for similar performances in forthcoming races.

"The car has been improving all the time and you can see that the car was good in France," Panis told autosport.com. "And with the work that Bridgestone have done, I am positive about Hockenheim.

"I am not so sure how it is with very high downforce tracks, but I am positive the tyres will play an important role."

Panis' confidence about the tyres is significant, because he had struggled at the start of the year to adapt his driving style to Bridgestone rubber. At Jerez, however, he found everything clicked into place with the new family of compounds.

"I am very impressed with the work Bridgestone have done, especially over the last two months. The team have done a lot of work too, but I am very happy to work with the new generation of tyres.

"I have learned how to drive them and I am extremely confident.  They are now much more efficient."