Toro Rosso want two points in 2007

The team, who scored one point last year, came close to repeating the feat at the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago, with Scott Speed coming home in ninth position.

But with the top teams being so far ahead, and with most outfits enjoying strong reliability, Ascanelli is under no illusions about their hopes for the season.

"Two points," Ascanelli told Autosprint when asked for their goals for the season. "One more than last year. Is it too little? I say everyone has the objective he deserves.

"The media wrote we are in an improving phase. I don't see it that way. I think we had a positive moment in Monaco, by taking one of our cars to finish in ninth place after starting 18th, with 19 cars finishing the race.

"I don't know whether it was one swallow that does not make a summer, but I know that at Barcelona Super Aguri took one point while we weren't in the conditions to do it, while with the new material we could have been in the points, but it didn't happen.

"We need to be realistic: if all Ferraris, McLarens, BMWs and Renaults get to the finish, then there's no space for anyone else. So we must try to consistently stay close to the point-paying positions and take advantage of any chances."

Ascanelli also said it is not realistic to expect Toro Rosso to match sister team Red Bull Racing.

"It's normal Red Bull Racing get some parts before we do, there's only 150 people in our team," he added.

"Now we have a wing similar to the one fitted on the RB3 at Barcelona, and at Monaco we used some extreme set-ups. On top of that we have new deflectors and something on the floor of the car. No black magic.

"In Spain we tried to introduce new things and we ran into reliability problems. I don't regret it, it was a provocation, an effort to force development. And it was also the demonstration that in this environment, if you assume things, you immediately pay the price for it."