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Brendon Hartley says that Toro Rosso is craving major upgrades as he feels the team has fallen away from the midfield battle. The Red Bull junior squad sits eighth in the standings but is now just nine points ahead of Sauber.
Toro Rosso last scored points at the Belgian Grand Prix in the hands of Pierre Gasly, but Hartley himself hasn't bagged a top-ten finish since Germany. Honda is set to introduce its 'spec 3' engine in the coming races, which they claim can match Renault power.
But Hartley says that the team is longing for a car upgrade towards the end of the season: “We haven’t had an update for a long time, it seems like the other teams have improved a bit more than us,” the Kiwi said.
"The last update we brought, which was Austria, didn’t bring us much performance. That was a long time ago, so we are definitely craving another update.
“There’s one from Honda and from Toro Rosso on the cards coming soon. It’s not a power sensitive track and we haven’t been pointing the finger at Honda regardless. Monza was a reasonably competitive outing for us and showed that we were right in that midfield scrap.”
Toro Rosso headed to Singapore last weekend with an optimistic outlook after Carlos Sainz crossed the line in P4 twelve months ago. However, the team struggled on the hyper soft compound, which confused Hartley.
“I don’t know if other teams have done a better job than us but it definitely seemed that on ultra softs we were relatively more competitive than we were on the hypers,” he said. “[It’s] hard to say right at the moment.”
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Replies (7)
Login to replyboudy
Posts: 1,168
Yep they need upgrades, the more the better. I would love for that Honda to outdrag the McLaren.
It would be funny if that happened and Hartley saying "Not bad for an GP2 engine ...." and finish the race in front of Alonso.
I like Brandon but I think his days are numbered in Toro Rosso. I would like to see vanDoorne next to an RedBull rookie hooked up with an Honda again.
The news that wehrlein might be heading to them doesn't excite me at all.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I've given up hope on Hartley. I really wanted him to do well, but I think it's clear he's out of his depth. Gasly is alright, but he's not superstar, and Gasly makes Hartley look like Massa against Alonso. I'm sad to say that I hope he gets replaced and makes room for a promising young driver. I'd hate to see Vandoorne leave Mclaren completely, but for Stoffel's sake I'd like to see him get that drive and a 2nd chance in F1.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
The Honda upgrade isnt expected until the U.S GP though, so not sure how much it will help STR this year, really. I think its more to please RBR by showing some sort of progress.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
It's a disgrace. I hope some day Toro Rosso manages to break free from the Red Bull yoke. Toro Rosso is a a really talented bunch.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Toro Rosso apparently cost more than £250M a year to Redbull. I believe that they have tried to sell them before but the deal with vw fell through because of that diesel scandal.
I rather see an more competitive team together with Redbull than an less competitive team like Williams. I you look at the improvements that Sauber has had this year it would be feasible that TR makes the same leap next year considering that the main team will be the Honda factory team.
I applaud Redbull for their continued support of F1 and see them more as enabling Toro Rosso.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Agreed Boudy. I'd love to see STR as a self sustained team (works Honda <3), but I dont think tis feasible. And props to RB for cashing up to keep another team on the grid, even if its for egoistic reasons (lets be real, anything F1 is mostly egoistic). And like you Boudy, I expect them to take a decent leap. 'sides, RB will be fed info on both PU along with other parts from next year and on, meaning lots of valuable data for them.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Ocon might be craving Brandon’s seat.