Ralf hopeful of Toyota step forward

Toyota have scored just five points in the first three races as their car have failed to be competitive enough to fight near the top of the field, despite the team aiming to score their first Grand Prix win this year.

But with four weeks before the Spanish Grand Prix, Schumacher says the team will do everything possible to be more competitive when Formula One begins the European season.

"Our Toyota is still not where it should be," said Schumacher on his website. "The car's understeer is a real problem, which is really making life difficult for me and my teammate Jarno Trulli.

"However, I hope we will be able to use the next weeks - and especially the test in Barcelona - to solve the problem and improve our performance."

Schumacher in particular has struggled to adapt to the handling of the TF107 car, and the German has scored just one point to Trulli's four.

But the Toyota driver says he is unfazed by any criticism about his performances, and that he will be able to show his speed once the car is competitive.

"I can live with criticism but I'm not interested in irrelevant comments," he said. "There is no way that is going to make me nervous. I will answer on the track as soon as the car is competitive again. The best way to answer unjustified criticism is with good results.

"The season is still long, we have only completed three out of 17 races and there will still be plenty of surprises. I believe that - just like last year - we will continue to improve throughout the course of the season."