Trulli praises improving Toyota team

Jarno Trulli has dedicated his strong fourth place in the Malaysian Grand Prix to his team, after praising their efforts over the winter.

The Italian held off Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages at Sepang to deliver a result that proves the Japanese manufacturer are now up at the front end of the midfield battle.

And although the focus is still on going even better as the outfit eye a return to the podium, Trulli said he was delighted with this early season boost.

“I split the McLarens for most of the race, I was fighting always with them,” he said. “They were slightly quicker than me in some occasions but I never gave up. I was really biting their tails all the way through the race, and at the end it was Hamilton`s turn to give me a hard time.

“But I wasn`t going to give up then either. I really wanted this fourth place for the team and me. We did a great job, and I dedicate this result entirely to the team.

“They did a very good job over the winter time. They now gave me the car to fight and they are supporting me. They did a great job during the whole weekend and I am pleased for them as well.”

Although Trulli`s chances of a podium were wrecked by a first corner tangle with Nick Heidfeld, the Italian believes that even without that he would have struggled to do much better than fourth.

“I went a little bit wide down the main straight and I didn`t see Nick at all, because now with this side cockpit headrest being higher, it is difficult to see any car on the side. So we touched each other a little bit and we lost a little bit of time.

“After that, I just did my own race. It would have been better to get out third from the first corner, but I feel as though we could not keep that position because our pace was not as quick as the other cars in front.”

24.3.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Toyota, Trulli    ▪ www.autosport.com