Toyota to wait and see about Ralf's F1 future

Toyota are happy to wait before opening talks on Ralf Schumacher's future at the F1 team beyond this year.

"The situation is that we have a three-plus-two-year contract, so we have an option in our favour for two years," Toyota motorsport president John Howett told reporters at the unveiling of the new TF107 car on Friday.

"I think both sides really want to wait until probably we've seen some races and he wants to see if we are good enough to provide a machine and I think then we'll sit down and discuss. At this stage I think we are both genuinely very relaxed about it."

Now the only Schumacher in Formula One following the retirement of elder brother and seven-times champion Michael, Ralf partners Italian Jarno Trulli in an unchanged line-up at the Cologne-based team.

Trulli, 32, last year agreed a three-year extension to his contract, a move that raised a few eyebrows in grand prix circles given the trend towards younger drivers. Ralf is a year younger.

"We feel that with the current market, and the way it's evolving, that it was right at that time to secure Jarno for three years," said Howett. "We believe in him and we think that, given a good car, he can deliver the results."

Schumacher has scored more points than Trulli in his two seasons at Toyota, taking their only podium of 2006, but Trulli delivered their best results so far when he finished second twice in 2005.

India could host a grand prix in Delhi as early as 2009, a close Indian associate of Bernie Ecclestone said. Leading businessman Vijay Mallya said he was confident the sport would come to the sub-continent. "It has always been my dream to bring Formula One to India," he said. "The government really wants F1 in India and I am optimistic that maybe we will be able to host our first race in 2009."