Toyota to blame for Ralf trough – Howett

(GMM) Toyota's F1 team present John Howett has thrown a metaphorical arm around his beleaguered race driver Ralf Schumacher.

Mounting media speculation is predicting the imminent decline of former grand prix winner Schumacher's formula one career, as he struggles at the wheel of the TF107 car.

Those rumors were not helped on Monday, when Toyota technical director Pascal Vasselon admitted in an official press document that Schumacher's "general grip" problem at the recent Monaco grand prix was due to "no obvious limitation of one parameter" of the 2007 machine.

Howett, however, leapt to Ralf's defense, telling the magazine 'Kicker' that Toyota is to blame for Ralf's trough.

"We were convinced," he said, "that he will win a grand prix for us.

"But we have to admit that it has not happened because of our car, not because of Ralf."

Howett also reportedly praised the German for the effort he has applied to solve his problems, and for the valuable contribution he has made to Cologne based Toyota's technical development.