Toyota satisfied with their performance

The team was helped by the session being cut short due to rain, leaving it ahead of Arrows and Jagaur, both of whom would have expected to be ahead of F1's newest team. Nevertheless, the TF102 was one of the quickest cars in a straight line.

"I think we have done a respectable job for our first ever qualifying," said team boss Ove Andersson. "Our objective was to qualify within the 107 per cent time and we achieved our aim without any problem."

Conditions were far from ideal for McNish's first taste of competitive F1 action, but he was pleased with his day's work.

"I wanted to get a lap in at the beginning of the session and we got a good base," he said. "Unfortunately it began to rain so we were limited to that one run, but I think overall the team should be happy for our first venture into Formula 1."