Breaking news
Formula 1
Toro Rosso plans "two, three major upgrades" to keep strong form
Toro Rosso is hopeful that 'two or three' major upgrades it has planned for its car will allow it to keep up the strong pace it has shown in the opening two races of the Formula 1 season.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Apr 11, 2016, 1:31 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Faenza-based outfit is currently sixth in the constructors' championship, and has shown good promise with its STR11 following a winter switch to using a 2015 Ferrari engine.
Although it is mindful that a lack of potential updates to the engine could mean it loses ground against its rivals in the power stakes, team principal Franz Tost thinks there is enough scope in improving the chassis that it can hold its ground against the opposition – because its package is far from perfect at the moment.
"Of course, we simply ran out of time to optimise everything," Tost told Motorsport.com. "The team around [technical director] James Key is already working on updates.
"I'm quite convinced that during the season we will make some other steps forward with the car, which is necessary because as you know we are with the 2015 engine out there and that means we must be concentrated to improve the performance of the car.
"I hope with two or three major upgrades we can achieve this."
One of the issues relating to its late engine switch from Renault was that its car was not designed originally with the Ferrari power unit in mind – which means there have been compromises in terms of packaging and weight distribution.
It is these issues which are believed to have impacted on the higher degradation levels that the team has suffered in the early races.
Speaking about this, Tost said: "We know that we can improve the car, and we are working on this. But I think every team will say something similar.
"They will come up with new modifications which will improve the performance of the car, so I think it's the combination of everything a little bit. Of the car itself, of the experience of the drivers, the tyres and so on."
Driver rivalry no problem
Tost also said that he had no problem with the extreme competitiveness between Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, despite the problems it caused with the radio row in Australia.
"Of course both of them are fighting on the limit, but this is okay," he said. "This is F1, and this is what we want to see.
"So far both are doing a good job. I expect some good entertainment also for the rest of the season."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mercedes expects "extreme" Chinese GP tyre strategies
Next article F1 teams must 'bide time' on prize money reform
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson’s remarkable form is giving Red Bull a headache for 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
12 h
Liam Lawson’s remarkable form is giving Red Bull a headache for 2027
Penalty drops Oscar Piastri out of F1 Mexico GP points
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Penalty drops Oscar Piastri out of F1 Mexico GP points
Latest news
Liam Lawson’s remarkable form is giving Red Bull a headache for 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
12 h
Liam Lawson’s remarkable form is giving Red Bull a headache for 2027
Hanley Motorsports announces multi-class IMSA arrival with BMW support and DXDT deal
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 12 h
Hanley Motorsports announces multi-class IMSA arrival with BMW support and DXDT deal
Ryan Preece will switch to No. 6 for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
14 h
Ryan Preece will switch to No. 6 for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe