Toro Rosso setting sights on Q3 with engine upgrade

  • Published on 06 Oct 2018 03:33
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Toro Rosso is hoping to make it into the final stage of qualifying on Saturday following a positive opening day in Japan. Brendon Hartley placed his car inside the top ten after the second practice session, indicating that the Red Bull junior squad has added pace this weekend.

That boost no doubt comes from the upgraded engine that Honda is running at Suzuka. The engine was fitted to the Toro Rosso last weekend in Russia but was taken out again to keep it at its optimum for the Japanese manufacturer's home race.

“I’d say it looks pretty positive,” said Hartley, "It looks pretty tight to the couple of cars ahead. It looks like we’re in a fight with Haas, Sauber, Force IndiaRenault looked a little bit behind – so it’s going to be a tough qualifying tomorrow. But Q3 looks possible.”

Hartley's teammate Pierre Gasly missed most of the second practice session due to a fuel cell issue. The Frenchman isn't so sure about the possibility of reaching Q3, but states there is no doubt that Honda has produced a positive upgrade to the engine.

“The power unit seems to be good, but once again we were quite safe today. We didn’t take too many risks. I think we’re going to turn it up a bit more tomorrow and hopefully we’ll get the big push in quali. Sochi in terms of performance we were not too far from the top ten, so hopefully we can get even closer.

"I don’t know if we will have enough to get into Q3 but clearly we will have more performance and I hope we will have a good surprise. I don’t know at the moment how much we’ll be able to extract from the new power unit, it’s still a bit of a question mark, but hopefully we’ll have a good surprise.”

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Alpha Tauri
  • Points 439
  • Podiums 5
  • Grand Prix 159
  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Feb 7 1996 (29)
  • Place of b. Rouen, FR
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.77 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar