Ralf Schumacher will drive for Toyota next season after finally ending speculation over his future by signing a three-year contract.
The German is currently contracted to Williams, although he is out of action after injuring his back in a high speed crash at Indianapolis last month.
Toyota have long been rumoured to be close to signing Schumacher, whose older brother Michael has won six world titles, and today they confirmed what much of the Formula One paddock was expecting.
Schumacher has signed for three years, taking him to the end of the 2007 season and team boss Tsutomu Tomita was pleased with his new driver.
He said: "It is with pleasure that we can announce Ralf as one of Toyota's race drivers for the 2005 season.
"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."
Tomita would not confirm who Schumacher's team-mate will be in 2005 with current drivers Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta out of contract later this year.
Panis, at 38 by the time the season ends, is nearing the end of his Formula One career while da Matta has struggled to make much of an impact since arriving from Champ Cars last season.
Tomita said: "We have not finalised who will partner Ralf in 2005, and this is something we are in no rush to decide on.
"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."
Schumacher's injury at Indianapolis capped a miserable season for the 29-year-old, who has six grand prix wins to his name.
A disappointing Williams car did not allow him to challenge early in the season while key figures at Williams went public in their criticism of Schumacher's driving after a series of needless accidents.
If he is to add to his tally of grand prix wins Toyota must make significant progress up the grid, with the Germany-based team currently entrenched in the midfield. They are seventh in the constructors' championship with eight points.