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Toro Rosso willing to make more sacrifices for Red Bull

Published on 15 Jan 2019 09:07
11
By: Harry Mattocks

Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has said that his team are willing to take more grid penalties in 2019 in order to help Red Bull. Last year, the Italian team of Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly often took penalties due to their Honda engine in order to speed up their development, and they will be going into this coming season with the same mindset.

However, with Red Bull now on the Honda bandwagon, a similar strategy for them would be much more costly as they are expected to be fighting for wins.

Due to the junior team being more expendable, Tost has admitted that they are willing to continue to take hits if it will accelerate development and bring gains in the long term. In return for this, Toro Rosso will take advantage of F1's listed/non-listed parts rules, enabling them to use the Red Bull gearbox and the entire rear end of the car.

"If that helps the strategy for Red Bull to win races and the world championship, of course," said Tost. "We do not even need to discuss this, it's within our philosophy. I'm more than happy with it, because in parallel we also improve the performance."

"There's no doubt that we will profit from the synergies and the co-operation with Red Bull Technologies. It's the whole rear end. We have to develop within the rules all the list of parts, and this of course we will do because we stick to the rules.

"All the teams at this stage of the year hope that the new car works better and is an improvement. This is the same for us, but I always say that I want to see the performance on the race track, which means the lap time. This is decisive."

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475

Revolting and pathetic. This is not even a proper racing team anymore. They don't exist to win and to compete. They exist to help Red Bull. Training drivers, holding other drivers down, waving pass Red Bull, and testing their parts for them. A morally repugnant state of affairs. I'd rather see th... [Read more]

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Jan 15 2019 - 14:25

F1 News Franz Tost Red Bull Racing Scuderia Toro Rosso

Replies (11)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
Revolting and pathetic. This is not even a proper racing team anymore. They don't exist to win and to compete. They exist to help Red Bull. Training drivers, holding other drivers down, waving pass Red Bull, and testing their parts for them. A morally repugnant state of affairs. I'd rather see the old Minardi team finishing in the back with dignity than this garbage.
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- Jan 15 2019 - 14:25
- Rindtchamp
  
  Posts: 304
  I totally agree tbh.
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  Jan 15 2019 - 14:53
- mcbhargav
  
  Posts: 1,332
  They are truly a "test bed".
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  Jan 15 2019 - 18:47
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
In a sense, I'd like to see RB-Honda go sour to the point that they split and Honda buy STR. I think STR has the potential to become a really good team, where it not for them being under the heavy burden of carrying Red Bull around. A skinless man can dream..
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- Jan 15 2019 - 19:05
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  I'd love that. I'd root for the success of that team. I absolutely agree that Toro Rosso has great potential, they are just kept alive and also hampered by their relationship with Red Bull. But like I said, I'd rather see those people be back markers when they were Minardi, bravely fighting for the ocassional point, but damn it, nobody could argue against their passion and integrity.
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  Jan 16 2019 - 05:36
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  And so much of Minardi is still there. Y'know, I find STR to be one of the more likable teams all in all, partly because of that Minardi heritage, partly because it isnt run by the literal Mouth of Sauron, just some what seems to be good guys trapped in literal hell, the one where literally everything contains caffeine and taurine.
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  Jan 16 2019 - 20:03
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  I don't agree with that since there is no structure in place that would help STR to survive. They are supported by Redbull by the tune of 100s of Millions. No; the deal with Honda should be successful so that they became more competitive and can attract more sponsorship. The more successful Redbull are the better it is for STR.
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  Jan 16 2019 - 21:46
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  @Boudy I think there is plenty of interest by outsiders who would love to dumb their money into F1. It would be more cost efficient to buy or become a title sponsor of an existing team than to build one. Look at Force India with Stroll, or Haas with Rich Energy. You are correct in that success for Honda will be good for Toro Rosso, but their success will always be calculated in terms of:
  
  Toro_Rosso_Success = RedBull_Success * 0.25
  
  Toro Rosso will never be a great team under Red Bull and that's by design.
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  Jan 16 2019 - 23:34
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  @AJP I thought that Redbull were open to selling STR and I am unsure if there really isn't that much outside investment available for buying an team. Coupled with the rule changes coming in to effect you are looking at an increased investment over the next couple of years. I prefer the STR setup over the never ending sage of investment problems that Minardi had. People forget that Minardi had to sell the team and others like Spyker/Manor/HRT had failed built their team out.
  
  I would love their to be independent teams and I dislike the waving by as an result of cross-team dynamics. Somehow I dislike it more if an Mercedes gets by an RacingPoint versus an Redbull by an STR. I think that's because Mercedes got this advance without much investment. Having an Mercedes driver in an foreign team make decisions that favors Mercedes is bad sport. Giving team orders for gifting the win to a driver that's behind you is another example. I am unsure what ruling could be put into place that would effectively stop those types of behaviour.
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  Jan 17 2019 - 08:40
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Agreed, its the same with all the other B-teams. Forever relegated to never truly suck, but by design never get up to the main team's level. As for How well Honda could maintain STR as a team: I mean, they are a company with increasing incomes, in part thanks to the millions McLaren owe them. Im sure they'd manage.
  
  Mind, I want RB-Honda to be successful, but its a shame how STR have to suffer for RB to 'git gud'.
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  Jan 17 2019 - 16:51
blade

Posts: 341
Bullshi%. I can't stand B teams, be they official or otherwise and the sport sticks because of them. C'mon Brawn - get it sorted - this year all fingers will be pointing at you - you've been in situ for long enough now for this to be your problem. Anything that looks or smells anti competitive should be exposed for just that. Doesn't this just show how crazy budgets have got that RBR can run two teams whilst others are struggling to run one?
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- Jan 16 2019 - 22:26