Toyota target Suzuka podium

"In the last three or four races, we've not really shown what we feel is the true potential of the car or the team," Toyota motorsport president John Howett told Reuters on Tuesday.

"We come with confidence because we do believe the car is much quicker than it has looked," he said at the Toyota-owned Fuji circuit that will replace Honda's Suzuka on the calendar from next year.

"We still think a podium is feasible.

"It's a hard fight because you know you've got four cars in two teams who are visibly quicker. But if they have any difficulty, or slip, we should be one of the teams that's there waiting for the podium place."

Toyota have not had a podium finish since the Australian Grand Prix in April, when Germany's Ralf Schumacher finished third.

Since then champions Renault and Ferrari have waged a private battle for both titles, with only Honda winning a race among the rest. Toyota are sixth, five points behind BMW Sauber.

Increased pressure

Neither Schumacher nor Italian Jarno Trulli finished last Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix after a dismal qualifying left them starting 16th and 17th.

Trulli finished seventh in Italy last month, the team's most recent points, while Schumacher was also seventh in Turkey in August.

Before that, the German was fourth in France in July, as was Trulli at Indianapolis.

"Up until probably the last couple of races I would say the car was definitely the third quickest package," Howett said.

"It's probably quite close at the moment between McLaren, Honda and ourselves.

"I have to say that in the last couple of races we haven't really shown that to the public at large."

Suzuka could see an improvement, with Schumacher having a strong record there.

The German gave Toyota their first proper pole position there in 2005, after Trulli had qualified fastest with the merest whiff of fuel in his car at the U.S. Grand Prix that he and none of the other Michelin drivers started.

Schumacher was also on the front row in 2004 with Williams, when he finished runner-up.

"Both of them are quick here," Howett said. "Ralf was driving here (in Japan) for one or two years (before Formula One) so he's used to Suzuka and does enjoy it.

"The car's potential is there. We just need to put it together," he added.

"Obviously there's increased pressure, from within the team anyway, because we want to do well on our home territory so we are hoping for a good race.

"We would like to give back to Toyota a strong result and obviously a better result than Honda."