Toyota F1 2003 German Flashback

The 2003 German Grand Prix brought Panasonic Toyota Racing its best combined result of the season after Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta both crossed the chequered flag in points-scoring positions. The seven world championship points the team acquired for the 5th and 6th place result propelled Toyota to 6th in the constructors' championship.

Friday practice demonstrated the team's competitive TF103 package with Da Matta setting the sixth fastest time, half-a-second quicker than his team-mate Panis who rounded out the top ten in tenth spot. First qualifying was a mixed affair with Panis enjoying a trouble-free run to tenth, but an oversteery car meant that Da Matta had to settle for an off-the-pace 15th.

Both drivers reported full confidence in their race cars and were sure of a stronger performance in qualifying proper. Saturday morning's practice sessions proved inconclusive, however, with Panis 8th and 11th in the two respective sessions and Da Matta back in 16th and 13th.

Second qualifying resulted in the breakthrough the team was hoping for and a return to the form displayed in the early part of the weekend. For the third time of the season, both drivers placed their TF103s in the top 10. Panis lined up in seventh position, just two places ahead of his Brazilian team-mate, who posted the ninth quickest time. The result equalled the team's best joint qualifying effort from the Canadian Grand Prix, but would be bettered at both the Indianapolis and Suzuka races later in the season.

Race day provided the Panasonic Toyota Racing team with its first ever double points finish after storming drives from Panis and Da Matta to take 5th and 6th places respectively. It would be a long wait until the next two-car points finish, which occurred at this season's Monaco GP, although the debut of the revised TF104B package at the Hockenheimring at the 2004 German GP puts the entire Toyota team in high spirits for a repeat performance this weekend.

What the drivers said:

Olivier Panis:
"It was a completely trouble-free race for me today. The three-stop strategy we had was the right choice and my car was absolutely perfect. The team did a great job all weekend, as did Michelin to provide us with such competitive tyres. Cristiano also performed very well and to have two cars in the top six is such a fantastic result. We have worked so hard throughout this season and have demonstrated that we have a competitive package. Heading into the three-week break, Panasonic Toyota Racing has seven more points and this makes me determined to push for more of the same in Hungary."

Cristiano da Matta:
"Everything ran smoothly for me in the race today. The car felt good and I got the most out of it. With Olivier getting fifth position, this is the first time that we have finished a race with both cars in points-scoring positions and it is a brilliant result for all the team's efforts. It shows that we are making progress, which is the most important thing, and we are getting closer and closer. We have to keep this level of performance up and continue to work hard. Then the results will keep coming naturally."