Motor racing-Toyota cast doubt on Trulli's future

VALENCIA, Spain Aug 22 (Reuters) - Toyota cast doubt on Jarno Trulli's Formula One future on Saturday with motorsport president John Howett saying there was a strong chance the Italian would not be with the team next year.

"We are in negotiation (with Trulli) and we haven't reached an agreement and there is a possibility that we won't close the gap," he told Reuters after qualifying for Sunday's European Grand Prix.

"At the moment the gap is reasonably large," added Howett. "We have to say there is a very strong probability not (to renew)."

Howett said the talks had been going on for some months but would not go into detail about the 35-year-old driver who joined the Cologne-based team in 2004 and has given Toyota, still to win a race, two second place finishes.

Trulli recognised his position was unclear but said that was a reflection of the current state of the sport.

"We are talking but nothing is really sure or clear so I think we need to wait a little bit more," he told reporters.

"I am waiting to talk with some teams. With others we are in talks but the priority is understanding first of all what Toyota does and wants to do."

He added: "Money has never been an issue, absolutely not. At the moment there is a lot of cost cutting and I do believe in this part also the driver has to play his role and I am more than happy to."

Howett said Timo Glock's future was more secure.

"With Timo we have the contract to our advantage. I think there is a high probability we will renew but we have asked him to try and look at the qualifying," he said of the German.

"In races he is phenomenal, I think he was second quickest from our analysis in Hungary so the race pace is there, the car certainly can work extremely competitively."

Trulli qualified a disappointing 18th on Saturday while Glock lines up 13th.

The driver market has been given an extra impetus by BMW's decision to quit at the end of the year, leaving Poland's Robert Kubica and Germany's Nick Heidfeld looking for new positions, and expectations that Fernando Alonso will replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari.

"I think looking at the way the drivers' market is moving...we have all got to hold our breath a bit and see what happens," said Howett.

"There are a lot of drivers who are talking to everybody at the moment.

"It seems that the Ferrari position with Kimi could then create other opportunities or close them for others...it's one of those situations where as soon as one moves it becomes fairly clear."

(Editing by Dave Thompson)

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