Trulli: I was not to blame

The Italian, who has since joined Toyota, rubbished suggestions that he was deliberately not trying in a bid to derail Renault's season - and criticised his old team for trying to make him responsible for losing second place in the constructors' championship to BAR at the Italian Grand Prix.

"I don't want to get into problems over this kind of speculation, but I must say I always tried my best," he said. "Honestly speaking I was always 100 percent when I was sitting in the car. But in the last few months the car did not do the same. We could not get it to work for me and in the end I was always blamed for that.

"They complained that they lost the second position in the constructors' championship because of my fault, but still I am the driver who won a grand prix, scored two pole positions and has scored more points in the Renault team. We reached an agreement so that they can finish off the season with the drivers they want."

Although Renault only made serious moves to change its driver line-up after the Italian Grand Prix, Trulli revealed that he got bad vibes about the situation over the Monza weekend. He has failed to score a point for the team since the French Grand Prix in July, when it became clear that he was leaving the team. He still has 46 points to former Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso's 45.

He added: "I already felt it before [Monza], but I was putting 100 percent of effort and commitment from my side - but for some reason we could not achieve what we wanted in terms of results.

"After Monza I had a call from Flavio and he complained that he was losing the second position in the constructors' championship without thinking that I was losing fourth position in the drivers' championship.

"Anyway, in the end they wanted to change the driver. I allowed them to change the drivers and that way I can be released. I could then jump into my new car and start working for next year."

Trulli began testing with Toyota on Thursday and could race for the team before the end of the season.