And defends Tomita's departureJust three races into the 2007 season, a comment by
Ralf Schumacher has threatened to ignite the driver 'silly season' by indicating that the embattled German driver is on the market.
Fending off speculation that he might struggle to
find accommodation on next year's grid after languishing alongside teammate
Jarno Trulli so far, 31-year-old Schumacher nonetheless suggested that Toyota may not be his only option for 2008.
"I am absolutely sure that I will be in Formula One next year," he is quoted as saying by the Cologne newspaper Express.
Ralf added: "BMW has a free spot and so have Renault. There are always other good seats."
As well as putting pressure on Toyota to re-sign him, however, Schumacher also protected the Japanese outfit from suggestions that team principal Tsutomu Tomita has been "fired" after failing to deliver on his promise of a winning car.
"With Japanese enterprises it is completely normal for this to happen every three, four years," Ralf explained.
He added: "He has not been fired; actually, it is completely the opposite. (Tomita) is moving upwards in the Toyota hierarchy."
© CAPSIS International Source GMM
