Toro Rosso: On the way to Melbourne…

Circuit: Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, 4.655 kms
Driver: Max Verstappen
Car: STR10 - 03
Laps: 85
Best time: 1:24.527

Total laps completed (4 days): 442
Total kilometres completed (4 days): 2057 km

Carlos Sainz
Total laps completed (2 days): 218
Total Kilometres completed (2 days): 1014 km

Max Verstappen
Total laps completed (2 days): 224
Total Kilometres completed (2 days): 1042 km

Total 2015 winter testing kilometres: 5536 (T01 1561.319 km +T02 1917.86 km + T03 2057.51 km)
Carlos: 2700 km
Max: 2837 km

Franz Tost (Team Principal): “This was the last test session in Barcelona and we were lucky with the good weather conditions, which is always important. The performance of the car is promising, as the new upgrades are working well and I’d like to thank all the engineers in Faenza and Bicester for the great job they’ve done. I also want to thank the production department, as all the parts arrived on time.

“We arrived in Jerez exactly a month ago with two rookies and we leave Barcelona tonight with two young drivers who are ready to make their Formula 1 debut.They have definitely grown as drivers in a very short time, showing a good learning curve as well as growing in confidence as the days have gone by. Pre-season testing has been a crucial part of the year for us to prepare the car, drivers and team for the season ahead. We’ve completed a total of 5536 km – which is already more than the total we covered last year, including the in-season tests – showing good reliability and performance.

“Of course we still have some work to do back at the factory and a lot of valuable data to go through before we fly to Australia, but all in all we achieved our goals. We are all very much looking forward to the start of the season in Melbourne.”

James Key (Technical Director): “Twelve days of very intensive winter testing have gone by very quickly. The team has done a great job, because the mileage we have put together with our partners at Renault has been excellent, covering more kilometres in these four tests than we did in all testing opportunities last year.”

“We began with our car in “Launch spec” just to get miles under our belt, allowing our drivers to settle in. Then we brought what we consider the race car to test 3 in Barcelona and it has performed exactly as we had expected in terms of the numbers we were seeing in the wind tunnel and from the chassis. Is it enough? We must wait until Melbourne to have an answer, but so far we are happy and the drivers’ feedback has been positive. The staff in the factory and in the wind tunnel worked very hard to produce effectively two different cars in a matter of months.”

“With two new drivers, we put them through a massive programme, aimed at giving them as much track time as possible, going through all the procedures that need to be well rehearsed for Melbourne. They have both done a competent job and we are encouraged by their attitude and approach. Now it’s time to put everything together and go racing.”

Max Verstappen (Car 33): “Today, we didn’t do as many laps as we wanted, but overall, I have had a very good winter test season, completing a lot of laps. Today, the team did a very good job to get me back out on track. I learned a lot about the car, in terms of set-up and I could see in which areas I can improve. In two weeks’ time, we will be racing in Melbourne. I can’t wait and I believe we have a good package. Together with the team I have learned a lot over these three tests and I feel ready to go racing.”

Scuderia Toro Rosso