The boss of Toro Rosso is insistent that they are concentrating on the positives of their new partnership with Japanese manufacturer Honda.
The Red Bull Racing sister team ended up losing both Carlos Sainz and their Renault power-unit for 2018, following McLaren’s decision to ditch Honda.
Whilst they now have the backing of one of Formula One’s most successful manufacturers, they also know that in recent times the engine has struggled for both performances and reliability.
In 2018, the power-unit regulations get tighter still with only 3 combustion engines, turbos, and MGU-Hs and only two MGU-Ks, control electronics and energy stores to last for the entire 21 race calendar.
Grid penalties will be incurred each time a driver needs an additional unit, something that infuriates fans but is in place to cut costs.
From next season any driver incurring more than a 15-place grid penalty will automatically start from the back of the grid.
For a driver to need more than a 15-place grid penalty they would need to be taking three new power-unit elements, which even for the most unreliable of teams doesn’t happen every race, but did happen a fair bit for McLaren Honda…
‘First of all we must see next year’s engine tested, and then we can think about possible penalties,’ Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost told motorsport.com.
‘But it’s far too early now.
‘The reason we requested to work together with Honda is that we are convinced that the company has a lot of potential, it’s a worldwide known car manufacturer with a fantastic motorsport history.
‘And we at Toro Rosso are proud to work together with such an exclusive partner.
Tost concentraing in Honda positives
