Trulli reminds Toyota he has other options

The Italian, whose contract expires at the end of the season, said at a pre-season event in northern France that he hoped to stay but could not wait indefinitely for confirmation even if time was not an issue yet.

"Me and Toyota, we are focused on the 2006 season and we are not in a hurry to renew the contract. We are talking, but we are not in a hurry," he told reporters.

"I have other options, this is very clear," added the Italian. "The only thing is that in case Toyota does not want to continue, I don't want to lose the other good option.

"I hope and believe that if we show good performance, we can carry on together.

"It's difficult to say when (a decision is needed)," continued Trulli.

"For sure I don't want to announce it in September and I would like to do it a bit earlier, especially when you have other options and I don't want to lose that in case something goes wrong."

Trulli joined Toyota in late 2004 after winning the Monaco Grand Prix for Renault and then falling out with team boss Flavio Briatore.

Last year, the 31-year-old handed Toyota their first podium and first pole position.

Only a handful of drivers have contracts for 2007 and beyond, Trulli's teammate Ralf Schumacher being one of them.

Trulli's position at Toyota has moved into the spotlight since Renault's Spanish World Champion Fernando Alonso signed to join McLaren in 2007.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, winner of seven races last year and twice a championship runner-up, is also out of contract at the end of the year and has been linked to big-budget Toyota as well as Ferrari.

Toyota motorsport president John Howett said the team had not spoken to Raikkonen.

"We've had no discussions with Kimi or his management team. We're happy with the current drivers, we think for 2006 they can certainly deliver what we want and we feel it's too early really to consider what we do in the future," he said.

Trulli was confident Toyota, chasing their first win since they entered the sport in 2002, would be strong this year after finishing fourth last season.

"Anything is possible during the season because we have new rules. We feel we have a strong package," he said.

"Things are running pretty well. I had a problem with the front suspension at the end of the season but now it has been solved. Now I have a better feeling with the car and am more confident," he said.