Ralf Schumacher is joining Toyota
 |  Ralf Schumacher has finalized his Formula One future by joining Toyota |
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COLOGNE, Germany -- Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher signed a three-year contract with Toyota on Wednesday and will leave BMW-Williams at the end of the season after five years.
Schumacher's move means Williams will have two new drivers next season as Juan Pablo Montoya is switching to McLaren-Mercedes.
"I know you can't buy success and I also know that Toyota cannot become an overnight success but I can promise I will put all my energy and patience into what they ask of me," he said.
"When I think I'm going to be at the heart of Toyota's long term project for the world title I start to have stomach cramps," he added.
Reports said Williams had been pressing him to accept a pay cut of six million dollars, leaving him with nine million dollars a year.
But he laughed off suggestions he had moved over money.
"I've earned so much money I don't have any worries about the future. Money has never been what motivated me in Formula One," he added.
Toyota Racing Team Principal Tsutomu Tomita refused to say how much they had offered Schumacher.
"Whilst we cannot divulge any specific contract details, we have negotiated a reasonable deal.
"As usually happens regarding Formula 1 budget figures, the amount of money reported by the media is largely overestimated.
"The rumors about the contract between Toyota and Ralf Schumacher are not an exception."
Tomita added: "He has proven himself to be an extremely quick racing driver in his career, and I am sure that his vast experience will be extremely beneficial to our team."
Toyota's current drivers Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta will have to fight for the remaining place next season.
"We have not finalized who will partner Ralf in 2005, and this is something we are in no rush to decide on," Tomita said.
"We are happy with the job that Cristiano and Olivier are doing for us and both of them are under consideration for the remaining race seat next season.
"There are still eight races of the season to go and everyone at Toyota is fully focussed on improving our level of performance to gain as many championship points as we can."
Toyota, who have the second biggest budget on the grid behind world champions Ferrari, are currently seventh in the constructors' championship with just eight points. Panis has five and Da Matta three.
Ralf, the brother of six-time F1 champion Michael, is recovering from injuries suffered at the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis on June 20.
Schumacher, who won six races for Williams, broke two vertebrae, but hopes to be back at the Hungarian GP on August 15.
