David Coulthard faces a snub if he pins his Formula One future on grabbing a drive at Toyota next year.
The Scot has been warned he would not be the first choice should a seat become available. Ralf Schumacher is the team's number one target. Coulthard is looking for a new team for 2005 with McLaren opting for Kimi Raikkonen to partner Juan Pablo Montoya when he makes the move from Williams at the end of the coming season.
Toyota adviser Ove Andersson said: "If Ralf or David came knocking at my door then I would look more seriously at Ralf."
The Japanese car giant, which has built up a 600 plus workforce solely intent on winning the world championship, are about to enter their third year in the sport.
They expect to become a major force in the next couple of years producing a car capable of regularly winning races and challenging the age old dominance of Ferrari, Williams and McLaren.
Coulthard's career at McLaren will come to an end this year even though the Woking-based outfit has yet to confirm Raikkonen as Montoya's partner.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
