Toyota up for Chinese challenge

Toyota Malaysia Rain

Now the F1 caravan moves to its 3rd leg – Chinese Grand Prix staged Shanghai International Circuit. Toyota have done exceedingly well in rain marred Malaysian GP, with its drivers finishing 3rd and 4th. Overall in Constructors championship Toyota is 2nd on 16.5 points, 8.5 behind the leader Brawn GP.

Toyota and other two double-decker diffuser teams got a major shot in the arm ahead of Chinese GP after FIA’s appeals court validated interpretation by these teams of the diffuser rule. It is a major relief and a vindication of clever interpretation by Toyota, which major teams like Ferrari and Mclaren couldn’t.

Chinese GP was held in later half of the season till last year. But this event has been moved up the calendar. The 5.45 km circuit is a very technical with a combination of long straights in front of grand stand at start-finish line and other from turn 13 till turn 14, were cars would reach their maximum speeds. The inside section of the circuit is very twisty and would test car’s balance and downforce setting. The teams must strike the optimum balance of the two to set the pace.
Chinese GP Track
Toyota have opted not to use KERS system this season might have some effect in the long straights as they will be loosing out on extra 60kW of power. But as seen in the past races, it has been compensated by a more balanced car. With the diffuser design being allowed, Toyota will surely have an edge over most teams in the inner section of the GP.

In the Malaysian GP, Toyota had a problem with soft compound tyres as they wore out too quickly. The medium compounds were too hard for the surface to heat up. As the Chinese GP is scheduled earlier, the conditions and track temperature will be cooler. It would be again imperative for Toyota to generate grip. This would a main area of concern in Shanghai after Malaysian GP.

With Toyota sounding confident for Chinese GP, they would wish that luck is also on their side. Unfortunate events of the last year’s race where Trulli was hit from behind at the 1st corner of the opening lap aren’t repeated. The sooner and colder Chinese GP awaits for a confident Toyota F1!