Trulli awaits Toyota's decision on future

And the Italian, who moved to the Japanese outfit from Renault before the end of the 2004 season, said he would not announce his move well in advance, criticising his former teammate Fernando Alonso's year-early decision to sign with McLaren.

The announcement of Alonso's move to McLaren in 2007 has taken the Formula One world by surprise and has drawn criticism from the likes of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.

Trulli, in turn, feels that the early announcement was disrespectful to Alonso's current team Renault.

"I see this trend nowadays of announcing decisions very early," Trulli told Tuttosport. "I think Formula One has changed; nowadays there is a race to get hold of the driver who is regarded a winner. I think it's an effect tied to the larger and larger involvement of the car manufacturers.

"I feel it's better to avoid this sort of conduct. If I signed today for any other team, I wouldn't leak any information about it. It's a form of respect which every driver should have for the team he races for - for the people who work there, and for commercial necessities."

Trulli's contract with Toyota ends after the 2006 season and the Italian said he would like Toyota to make a decision whether to retain him as soon as possible.

"I'm a Toyota driver and my first option is to stay with this team," Trulli told the newspaper. "I feel good here; our technical level has improved a lot and I think it can still improve more. The ingredients are all there, as there are the resources to win, so I have no reason to change.

"But it's also true that I've received offers and there are contacts with other [teams]. I need Toyota to let me know shortly what they want to do, and then I'll act accordingly.

"Facts demonstrate that you only win if you make an effort over a long-term period. That's what I'm interested in. That's why I don't intend to wait too long before taking a decision."