Ralf will miss Williams

Schumacher, who has been out of action since sustaining fractured vertebrae in a massive crash in the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis a month ago, spoke publicly for the first time of his switch during a press conference at Hockenheim last weekend.

"In a way I have been here [Williams] for six years and there are great people around here and it has been a pleasure to work with all of them, well nearly all of them," he said. "And I must say it is tough [to leave] after six years.

"I've been here for longer than any other driver I think but I see my future somewhere else."

Schumacher has signed a three-year deal to drive for Toyota. And although the team has yet to produce the kind of success that Williams would on any other season take for granted, Schumacher believes that with technical director Mike Gascoyne on board and what is understood to be the biggest operating budget in F1 at its disposal, Toyota has massive potential.

"It will take some time no doubt," said Schumacher, "but on the other hand tell me a team you can go to and win a world title apart from Ferrari. The possibilities (are good) - they have good people and a good budget and there is clearly something to come."

They are a very young team and it is very interesting to be able to join and be involved a lot more and have a better chance of success."

Schumacher Jr rejected suggestions that he was trying to emulate his brother Michael, who left a world championship winning team to join the struggling Ferrari squad before helping take it to success.

"It will be a great project together," he said. "It is nothing to do with trying to copy something it's just that after six years I want to try something new."