Zoom Trulli looking at the good signs

After Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock signed Formula One's first-ever all-Toyota front line on the Bahrain Grand Prix grid, expectations were high within the team that the right conditions were finally reunited for its long-sought maiden victory.

Such would not be the case however, as the tyre strategies used by both drivers eventually took their chances away. Glock finished in seventh position while pole sitter Trulli remained higher in the order, taking the third step of the podium.

"At my first stop we went with the medium tyres and on those I was just defending against cars lighter than me on the super soft tyres," explained Trulli. "The other guys at the front waited until the final stint to use the medium tyres and in hindsight that was probably the right decision."

Although the win was not theirs, there was reward in the points collected by both drivers as they maintained Toyota only a step away from overtaking the Red Bull team in the constructors' standings.

Trulli holds mixed feelings regarding his result in Bahrain: he dropped from pole to third place, yet also saw the TF109's overall performance levels pick up.

"To be honest, I was disappointed because qualifying went so well and expectations were high that we could challenge for Toyota's first victory. I expected more than third place but it wasn't to be unfortunately, although I did set the fastest lap of the race which shows the potential of the car," he observed.

However, even in disappointment there is hope, the Italian found: "To be disappointed with third place makes such a difference compared to the previous few seasons."

"You can see that we have made a really big step this year. We have three podiums already from four races and that is the same number we had from the previous three seasons combined," Trulli pointed out.

"Everyone in the team has worked so hard on this car and now we are seeing the rewards," the Toyota driver continued. "In Formula 1 you have to push as hard as you can at all times and we have never given up fighting, so our improvement is really down to hard work from everyone."

With the return to Europe following the four opening fly-away races, all teams will be introducing upgrades to their cars. The order of things is therefore likely to change once more - all depending on the performance gains made by each team of course.

"I believe we have a good chance to be competitive all season," Trulli considered. "But of course we have to keep on working hard, then time will tell."

The key is to "never give up pushing," he added. "I have faith in my team."

On a different note, Trulli took advantage of the podium ceremony in Bahrain to point at a logo appearing on his uniform, that of the Abuzzo earthquake foundation he recently established.

"I have set up a website, www.abruzzonelcuore.org, to raise money for the people who have suffered in this dramatic event and already we have raised more than Euro 17,000 so I am really pleased," he said.

"We have had a lot of support from other drivers who have offered items to auction and I will keep pushing through the season to do what I can to help," Trulli, a native of the affected area, promised.

Daniel BASTIEN
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