Toyota F1 pilot Cristiano Da Matta has been axed from the team in a shock move prior to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Da Matta ponders a return to US racing
Former CART champion Da Matta is to be replaced by tester and ex-BAR driver Ricardo Zonta who has already amassed a wealth of experience in F1 through his past campaigns, with three seasons of experience.
Zonta will take up the reigns
Frenchman Oliver Panis will see out the remainder of the season after securing Toyota’s highest points finish in the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis.
Results have been hard to come by for the Japanese outfit since entering Formula One, despite having reputedly one of the biggest budgets on the grid. This latest move shows the team’s patience may be running thin as it gets increasingly desperate for a turn in fortunes.
Briscoe
In first practice for the Hungarian GP Zonta managed 13th fastest, four-tenths of a second behind Panis and one-tenth behind Aussie test driver Ryan Briscoe.
Briscoe has been told he won't feature in the teams 2005 line-up but paddock rumours have Jarno Trulli, race winner and current Renualt driver moving to the team as part of a two-year deal.
Ralf Schumacher will lead the team in 2005
Next season will see a recovered Ralf Schumacher join the Cologne based team but his team-mate had yet to be confirmed. Rumours had placed David Coulthard alongside side him although the shock departure of Brit Jenson Button from BAR to Williams means that the Scott may be in line to fill Buttons old position.
Trulli may well be driving a Toyota in '05
Trulli has been pushed out of the Renault team despite a string of good results including a win in Monaco this year. A two-year deal for the Italian would secure his future in F1 from an otherwise rocky postion.
Da Matta is expected to return to America at the end of the season to re-kindle his career.
Toyota Club United States
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