Toyota Delighted with Top Ten Position

The Toyota team were pleased after enjoying their best qualifying session since making their Formula One debut at the start of this season.

"I am very pleased that we have made our third top ten qualifying position in only our 6th race," said chief designer Gustav Brunner. "The A1-Ring has tended to suit our car a bit better than other circuits and this has been reflected in the excellent 10th and 14th positions that Mika and Allan managed today."

Finn Mika Salo equalled the Japanese squad's best qualifying performance with a strong tenth place despite struggling with understeer in his Michelin-shod TF102 car.

The veteran driver, who finished in sixth place at the A1-Ring circuit in 2000, apologised for holding up Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello when the Brazilian was completing his final run.

"Qualifying was very close as expected with every hundredth of a second counting," he said. "I couldn't get the lap done I wanted and suffered from understeer, which we have to improve on.

"I am sorry for holding up Rubens on his final flying lap. He was in the blind spot of my mirror and I just didn't see him."

After shining in Friday's practice by being fifth quickest, Scot Allan McNish completed his best qualifying performance up to date with the 14th fastest time of the session.

"The qualifying session today was extremely positive from my perspective," said the Scot. "We have found a good set-up on the car for the race and I am looking forward to making the most of it tomorrow."