Nationality Brazilian Team Panasonic Toyota Racing Car Toyota TF103 General Manager Norbert Kreyer
STATS	2003	CAREER
Rank	13	13*
Wins	0	0
Podiums	0	0
Top 8	4	4
Best finish	6	6
DNFs	3	3
*Indicates career best points finish

2003 recap
The good: A thoroughly respectable rookie F1 season for Cristiano da Matta. Four finishes in the points, and a total of 12 top 11 finishes in 16 starts. In fact, it went so well that da Matta was disappointed to end up 13th in the final standings instead of inside the top 10.

The bad: It was only Toyota's second year in F1 and da Matta's first. Lack of experience meant that mistakes were bound to be made. Team and driver were not consistent enough and at times they were competitive one weekend and not the next. Overheating problems hampered the car in the early races.

Key stat: Da Matta led the British GP for 17 laps. It was the first time that he and Toyota led a grand prix.

2004 outlook
Prior to his first F1 season, da Matta had to spend winter testing learning how to drive the car and how the team and F1 worked. During testing this winter he can hit the ground running and concentrate on improving himself and the car.

What needs to be done: Be more consistent overall. Also, Toyota managed to avoid the dip in performance that hit so many new F1 teams in their second season, and Toyota has to keep that upward impetus in its third season.

Key change: Technical director Mike Gascoyne has left Renault to join Toyota. It will take a while for Gascoyne's influence to help the team, but there is no doubt that he will improve the overall package. Ove Andersson, who has overseen Toyota's European motor sport arm for 30 years, has stepped down as team principal of the F1 team. He remains as an advisor. Toyota Motorsport chairman Tsutomu Tomita will become team principal.

Prediction: Da Matta will finish in the top 10 in points in 2004.

Did you know: A music lover, da Matta is also an accomplished guitar player. He prefers playing with nylon guitar strings to steel strings.

Your take
Now that he has learned the F1 ropes, how will da Matta fare in his second season? Share your thoughts on da Matta's prospects for 2004.