That is such a kick ass name! VIVA LA SQUADRA TORO ROSSO!!!! much better than red bull usa, or red bull minardi... i like it your thoughts?
DECEMBER 15, 2017 Toro Rosso working to fit Honda engine Toro Rosso is working hard to fit the Honda power unit into its 2018 car. The basis of the Red Bull junior team's car for next year was designed around the Renault power unit, but that deal is moving to McLaren for 2018. Toro Rosso technical boss James Key said the Honda unit is "fundamentally different". "It's a very compact unit, but a different architecture to the Renault. It requires a lot of adaptation work," he told Speed Week. Key said Toro Rosso cannot start the Honda-powered 2018 car "from scratch" because the main aerodynamic surfaces of the car are already set in stone.
MARCH 20, 2018 Toro Rosso took pressure off Honda says Key Toro Rosso has confirmed rumours Honda made a big step forward over the winter after the Japanese engine manufacturer got more 'freedom'. One analysis of the big improvement made by Honda since the McLaren split is that it now has more room to breathe as its new partner, Toro Rosso. Technical boss James Key confirms: "We told them 'Do whatever you need to do with your engine'. "'Don't worry about the chassis. If it means a little more weight or size, we'll find a way. We just didn't want to put pressure on them," he told Auto Motor und Sport. Key said the outcome of that was good reliability and driveability in the winter tests. He added: "I don't know how much better Renault has got, but we are not far from what we were used to in 2017. "I think the differences that were talked about last year were a little over the top."
Here's hoping the Toro Rosso Honda finishes in the top 4 of the championship. The only problem I see is the relatively inexperienced drivers.
If they beat McLaren look for major management shake ups there. Honda wants to power the RB next year and repair the PR damage done at 3 years at McLaren. You can bet they are putting everything into that program. I don't think you can say that about Renault.
Honda is only committed as an engine manufacturer, a totally different group of peopel than those in the heyday of Senna prost etc obviously non continuation there wheras at Renault thye are building up their effort flat out for their own F1 team so they are leaving no stone unturned, they have hugely expanded the Enstone facility for the team AND reorganized the Viry Chatillon engine plant ethos since last year.
Kubica could replace Hartley at Toro Rosso MAY 31, 2018 Robert Kubica has emerged as another potential replacement for struggling Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley. Dr Helmut Marko, who heads Red Bull's driver programme, said recently he was not looking to oust New Zealander Hartley mid-season "at the moment". He now tells Speed Week: "The situation around Brendon is not pleasing. "We will go through this in peace and see what we can do in the future." Linked already with the seat are Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Giovinazzi, who are stars of the respective Mercedes and Ferrari development programmes. But another potential candidate is Kubica. France's Auto Hebdo said Red Bull may actually prefer to promote Jake Dennis or Sean Galael, but neither has a super license. The magazine noted, however, that Kubica has that credential already. The former BMW and Renault driver may also be looking to join the apparent exodus at Williams. Amid the British team's current crisis, top design and technical chiefs Ed Wood and now Dirk de Beer have departed. Kubica is currently the Williams reserve driver.
Honda tipped to make 40hp step in Canada JUNE 4, 2018 Honda will take "a considerable step" this weekend in Canada. Like most of the engine manufacturers, the Japanese carmaker will bring an updated 'power unit' specification to the Montreal race. Rumours suggest Honda's step forward will be as much as 40 hp. "I don't know the exact numbers. I think it's better to ask someone from Honda or Toro Rosso," said Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley. "But I think it should be a considerable step," he is quoted by AS newspaper. Teammate Pierre Gasly said he is looking forward to Honda's power boost. "I will wait until Friday to see exactly what the difference is," said the Frenchman. "Sometimes in formula one it doesn't go as you expect, but sometimes it goes better, so I want to see it. But I am very excited about this improvement," Gasly added.
remarkable that since Honda dropped the Mclaren team, reliability seems to have improved significantly. Now, it's still the worst engine, don't get me wrong....but not nearly as bad as portrayed all those years by Mclaren.... Seems to me Mclaren was so sure about their concepts and refused to compromise or accept some share of blame. Honda's development in all that time has suffered as they spend all the time making the engine work in the Mclaren, who refused to work around some areas that clearly needed working on. Meanwhile, Mclaren conned Honda and everyone else, making them believe they had the best engine. I believe Bob (theMayor) was quite loud proclaiming that there was a big possibility that Mclaren just ran loads of aero to make the car fast in the technical sectors on tracks where it suited them...seems he was right. Yes the car would be slow on the straights, but everyone believed that was the doing of Honda. Funny how that worked out. Mclaren, with great drivers, is the worst performing renault team. They made us all believe their aero and chassis was Red Bull rivaling...**** we'd probably see them compete with Ferrari and Red Bull for podiums tooth and nail! What a joke they are. Good on Honda.
I did hope McLaren would do a lot better this year but alas...with that said, if Alonso's car didn't break down at Monaco, technically, the worst Renault-powered team at this moment of the season would be the Renault works team itself...and with that said, still a far cry from the top spots...and with that said rb is punching above it's weight and admirably able to bring the fight when the track suits newey's aero, if only max can make a contribution but alas...
Toro Rosso backs struggling Hartley JUNE 12, 2018 Toro Rosso has boosted Brendon Hartley's chances of staying with the Red Bull junior team. Amid speculation the Faenza based team was looking to replace the New Zealander with McLaren's Lando Norris, team manager Graham Watson said Toro Rosso is happy with Hartley. "We want him to be successful," he told Newshub. "As a Toro Rosso team we are 100 per cent behind Brendon." However, Watson acknowledged that the decision may not just be up to Toro Rosso. "The drivers are predominantly controlled by Red Bull and then we as a team are the guys who work with these two guys and try and make them have the ability to be a world champion in the future," he said. "We don't have the actual control of what happens with our drivers in Toro Rosso."
Ticktum not denying Toro Rosso rumour AUGUST 20, 2018 Dan Ticktum has given a strong hint that he might be about to make his move into formula one. In July, Red Bull wanted the 19-year-old F3 driver to replace Brendon Hartley at Toro Rosso. But FIA rules meant Ticktum couldn't get the super license even to test for the Italian team after the Hungarian grand prix. "How are we supposed to bring our young drivers to formula one?" Dr Helmut Marko complained. But it is believed Ticktum will now test after Abu Dhabi, and he didn't deny that formula one in 2019 could be the next logical step. "I'm in formula 3 so I cannot answer that," he said. "Sorry, I'd like to but I cannot. "There is nothing confirmed at the moment. Of course it helps to win, but this is formula 3 and there is still a long way to go." Another contender to replace the probably Red Bull-bound Pierre Gasly for 2019 is Lando Norris, who could be traded by McLaren in exchange for an early start for new technical boss James Key. "We do not want to comment yet in relation to 2019," a source close to 18-year-old Norris said.
Uh...their reliability is still very bad. They have double to triple the replacement rate of Mercedes. They could start racking up penalties as early as this coming race. They still have a lot of races left! Also, STR are still well down on pace from last year. The Honda is still as bad as it ever was. Worse? No improvement in sight.
True, but loads of these are supposed upgrades. Each upgrade is immediately marked as a replacement part. The drivers are not nearly as good as last year, yet they're only 2 points off Mclaren's total last year. And we're half way through the season...Last year at this point Mclaren had 11 points (9 of which scored at Hungary). STR at this point last year had 39 points (now 28).
Ten drivers on Toro Rosso long list for 2019 SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 Dr Helmut Marko says he is putting together a "long list" of potential Toro Rosso drivers for 2019. Pierre Gasly is being promoted to Red Bull Racing, while Brendon Hartley has underperformed this year. "There needs to be a significant increase (from Hartley) in the last races this season," Marko told Speed Week. He said Hartley will not be ousted within 2018, but it means Toro Rosso could have not one but two free seats for 2019. The candidates are lining up. Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum is struggling to secure the necessary super license, while McLaren says the axed Stoffel Vandoorne should be considered. Also mentioned as a candidate by Christian Horner is former Red Bull and Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat, while rumours have linked Jean-Eric Vergne and even Robert Kubica and others with the seat. "There is no shortlist, it's more like a long-list," Marko smiled. "There are ten names on it." But he seemed to rule out Esteban Ocon, noting that one driver "with a Mercedes contract" will "probably not" be considered. "However, everything is possible," said Marko.
Buemi on pole for Toro Rosso return SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 Sebastien Buemi has moved into pole position for a return to formula one next year. The now 29-year-old Swiss contested over 50 races for Toro Rosso until 2011, going on to become a top sports car and Formula E driver. But now with Pierre Gasly moving to Red Bull Racing, and Brendon Hartley having underperformed this season, Buemi is very much back in the running. He had a seat fitting at Toro Rosso's Faenza base late last week. However, team boss Franz Tost told Blick newspaper: "It is not planned that Sebastien will be used by us this year." But he also admitted that Buemi is "not commenting right now". Dr Helmut Marko, the boss of Red Bull's F1 programme, admitted that he will meet with Buemi in Singapore this weekend. "I know that we have recently renewed the contract with Buemi as a simulator driver for another year. In Singapore we also have a meeting with him. "But on Saturday he has to go back to a Formula E test," Marko said. One theory is that the Buemi rumours will pressure the struggling Hartley to either up his game or crumble out of F1 completely. "All speculation," Marko insists. "It's a lot of excitement about nothing. "Buemi has certainly been a topic, but his contracts with other series and Toyota were unfortunately always in the way of a comeback," he added.
