Toyota to wait and see on Ralf's future

"The situation is that we have a three-plus-two-year contract, so we have an option in our favour for two years," Toyota motorsport president John Howett told reporters at the unveiling of the new TF107 car on Friday.

"I think both sides really want to wait until probably we've seen some races and he wants to see if we are good enough to provide a machine and I think then we'll sit down and discuss," added Howett.

"At this stage I think we are both genuinely very relaxed about it."

Now the only Schumacher in Formula One following the retirement of elder brother and seven-time champion Michael, Ralf partners Italian Jarno Trulli in an unchanged line-up at the Cologne-based team.

Trulli, 32, last year agreed a three-year extension to his contract, a move that raised a few eyebrows in Grand Prix circles given the trend towards younger drivers. Schumacher is a year younger.

"We feel that with the current market, and the way its evolving, that it was right at that time to secure Jarno for three years," said Howett. "We believe in him and we think that, given a good car, he can deliver the results."

Schumacher has scored more points than Trulli in his two seasons at Toyota, taking their only podium of 2006, but Trulli delivered their best results to date in 2005 when he finished second twice.

Schumacher, who once spoke of his desire to build a team around himself as Michael did so successfully at Ferrari, said there was no need for either to be pre-eminent.

"Both of us, and we have proved it, are able to win races so there is no priority now. And it is not needed because they are able to fulfil the needs of both drivers. Certainly, each of us hopes to win races."

The German was a winner at Williams while Trulli has one victory from his spell at Renault in 2004. Toyota have yet to win a Grand Prix since their debut in 2002.

Schumacher said the new car, which he has already tried out in a shakedown test, looked promising.

"I must say the impression is very good...What we saw there certainly will look different to some extent in Melbourne but it already works as expected."

Schumacher has never before started a season without his older brother and said he would miss that on a personal level at least.

"It is certainly going to be different," he said.

"I don't think it (the racing) will change," he added. "We always have the opinion that Ferrari is special and that Michael and Ferrari was even more special but I don't know whether that's really true."