Toyota: No Drivers Decision Until August

The Toyota team will wait until the end of August before deciding their driver line-up for 2003, according to the Japanese squad's team manager Ange Pasquali.

The Cologne-based team, making their Formula One debut this year, have been linked with several drivers for the following year, with rumours that Scot Allan McNish will be ousted at the end of his rookie season.

But on Friday Pasquali said that they haven't held talks with any drivers, and added that the decision will be made around the time of the Belgian Grand Prix.

"Well, at the moment we haven't taken any decision and I think we will take our decision around the end of August, around Spa [Belgian] Grand Prix," said Pasquali. "We concentrate on our priority, which is the car and improving the car and the team.

"This decision will be taken with Japan as well, but none of the names mentioned [by the rumours] now have been in contact or even negotiating with us so there is no truth in those rumours. But rumours are part of Formula One, aren't they?"

Finn Mika Salo on Thursday confirmed that he has another year of his contract to run, while McNish's future with the team is still in doubt. Pasquali defended the Scot's performance this year, and added that Toyota are in no hurry to replace him.

"Allan is doing a reasonable job with us," he added. "It's the first year in Formula One for him. For sure it's not easy and he's also been unlucky. If you look at Silverstone, to stay on the grid at his home Grand Prix was not very nice and we are very sorry for that.

"Yes, Allan is doing a reasonable job with us and good technical feedback during tests, so at the moment there is no emergency."