Looks like Ralf Malf is possibly going to Toyota:

RALF SET TO SIGN TOYOTA DEAL?
Last Updated: Wednesday, 31 March , 2004, 11:04

Ralf Schumacher is on the verge of signing a £60m deal with Toyota, according to reports.

The German is rumoured to be signing a five-year deal with the team – and hopes to transform their fortunes the way brother Michael has Ferrari’s.

A source close to Schumacher told The Sun: “It looks odds-on that Ralf will be at Toyota next season because there is no way Williams will try and match the offer.

“Ralf is 28 and feels this could be his only chance of joining a team which he can help transform just like Michael has done.

“He has watched the adulation Michael has earned by making Ferrari great and he would like to see if he can do the same with Toyota.”

Under the terms of the rumoured deal, Ralf could even net a further £4million per year in performance bonuses.

Schumacher’s manager Willi Weber said only last week that Ralf was close to sealing a new contract with Williams.

Weber, who had previously claimed Ralf could be on his way to Renault, said at the time that Williams was the German’s number one choice for 2005.

But any deal with Sir Frank would see Schuey Jr take a cut in his basic wages, with the rest being made up in bonuses.

Toyota have made no secret of their admiration for Ralf, with former team boss Ove Andersson commenting that, of all the top drivers on the market for 2005, he – and not David Coulthard - was their number one choice.




Good, pursue $$$$$$$$$$ and forget about ever becoming a champion w/ a good team. Make room for a coupla good drivers at Williams next year.

 

Ralf is such a fool...he can't really believe that he can change a team the way his brother did!

 

No shit huh? Does he think he's taking the aero guy; Head; his chief mechanic and race team mgr to Toyota?? Yeah, right! Whatta tool this guy is. I will be so happy to see him battlikng for last place against the Minardis. Whatta fookin' riot.

 

um, that shld be "battling" not "battlikng"

 

tho in retrospect, maybe he does lick bats!

 

Geez, $110 million over 5 years and they still need incentives

I agree, get Button and Webber in the Williams cars.

 

Even though Ralf has had a few bright moments in his driving career, I doubt he'll ever develop the maturity, focus, determination and consistency his brother has had. Maybe if he gets to drive the best car in the field and doesn't blow it he could achieve a championship for a single season. But I don't think he's capable of turning any team around like his brother did for Ferrari.

Also, I'm not too impressed with Webber. Button (and BAR) on the other hand has suprised everone this year.

 

Hate to argue w/ you (again!) but Webber brought an underpowered, under-chassised car to 3rd on the grid in Malaysia. That wasn't luck dat's fo sho!

 

Oh, and Button's my man this year. Go Honda power!

 

At least they're not exploding so far this year.

 

Yeah, Ralf's worth 110 mil.

 

2nd podium finish this season!!! And Sato isn't doing bad either.

 

Did Ralf sign with Toyota ?

 

No, he's saying it was all BS that he was contemplating 100M over 5 years. Somehow I don't believe the little prick.

 

He better sign soon, his value may be dropping. Hell, maybe J.V. will take the seat

P.S. I hope Toyota sticks with DaMatta, i think he's the real deal.

 

Red, your CART bias is showing through! I don't think DaMatta will ever reach even Fisichella standards (fast qualifier but never a winner).

 

You may be right, but it's hard to tell with the Toyota. He was every bit as good as Montoya was in CART, he totally dominated the last 2 years he was there.

 

Yeah cuz JPM wasn't!

 

That did help, but he still hammered the field.