Hungarian GP: Toyota is lacking serenity

While the Toyota team was at the top at the start of the season, it has been struggling in recent races to the point of doubting before this new F1 meeting in Hungary. The last GP was a real ordeal, especially for Jarno Trulli, not to mention the few races before it.

Timo Glock seems more serene, perhaps because a year ago, he achieved his best career performance with a second place behind Kovalainen. For both drivers, the important thing is certainly the race, but from their point of view, the qualifying session is crucial. No technological advancements are expected on the TF109. All the more reason not to highlight unwavering serenity.

Jarno Trulli – Racing Driver

« I enjoy visiting the city of Budapest and this Hungarian Grand Prix is always pleasant for me. The Hungaroring is a difficult circuit because it is very narrow with many slow corners. It is not one of the fastest tracks on the calendar, but it is truly fun to drive. You have to keep your concentration because otherwise you are quickly punished. »

« The situation is very close between several teams at the moment, so it’s difficult to predict what will happen in Hungary. We are capable of having a good weekend without issues to be competitive. Last weekend was very frustrating for me but we are all determined to finish in the points in Hungary. »

Timo Glock – Racing Driver:

« Hungary will remain etched in my memory for last year’s podium. It was the first of a series of good performances and I hope to experience the same this year. I am naturally optimistic and I know I can make an impact again. It was disappointing to miss the points in the last race as it was at home. I jumped 11 places between the start and the end of the race. »

One of my objectives for this weekend will be to achieve a perfect qualifier lap because it has been an issue over the last two races, for different reasons. The times are very close this year so if you’re one or two tenths off your pace in qualifying, it makes your task in the race seriously difficult. We will be pushing as hard as possible and I’m sure we will bounce back.

Pascal Vasselon – Deputy General Manager of Chassis:

« We look forward with optimism to this Hungarian Grand Prix. Even though the Hungaroring is a circuit with a low average speed, it mainly consists of medium corners without very slow turns. Furthermore, a lot of downforce is needed. The track is very challenging for the brakes, focusing on braking stability and cooling. Additionally, tire grip and consistency can be challenging because the track surface is very specific. »

« We will use the soft and super-softs this weekend to avoid any unfortunate situations. We are expecting high ambient temperatures, but our cooling systems on our cars are very good, allowing us to cope with these conditions without degrading aerodynamic performance. »