Analysis

Toro Rosso chases answers on B-spec package

Toro Rosso plans an extensive back-to-back test of its B-spec package at the Italian Grand Prix in a bid to get to the bottom of whether the upgrade it introduced in Germany is better or has led the team down a blind alley.

Technical director James Key is eager to understand exactly why a development that has showed such promise in the wind tunnel and on CFD has not correlated to real world performance.

It comes on the back of Faenza engineers having been convinced prior to running it that the update would yield a similar uplift in performance to that seen when Force India introduced its B-Spec parts in Barcelona.

Toro Rosso plans to fit one car with the new parts and the other with German GP-specification parts to get a better grasp on what is not working as predicted – and why.

The new package included a new front wing, front brake duct changes, new sidepod airflow conditioners, a new floor and new rear brake duct, which follow concepts used by many of the other teams up and down the grid.

Both cars will retain the cooling changes that were made in Hungary, as it is obvious from the data that this has improved the output of the power unit.

The poor results since using the aerodynamic update has pushed the team into a corner where it must make a decision on whether to stick with it, or abandon it totally.

It is especially important as any new parts due before the season is completed may be reliant on the B-Spec parts too, and rescheduling their redesign could then impact on the schedule of the 2017 car.