Toro Rosso (F1 Preview)

Toro Rosso will never stop being associated as Red Bull’s B team. And although rule changes made the teams split almost completely, they are still linked by drivers, as Toro Rosso works as a driver’s programme for the Red Bull.

This year the team revolutionized its’ drivers lineup, dumping Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari and substituting them by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. As for the Aussie, he drove the last races of last season for HRT, grabbing little experience on F1 races, while Vergne is one the rookies of the season.

Ever failing to repeat the 2008 success, last season Toro Rosso managed to climb to eighth position in the final standings, almost taking Sauber’s seventh place in a tight struggle until the last races.

More than what the team can achieve in terms of results, I think the eyes will be set on the drivers and what they can do in F1.

Toro Rosso focused on stability for its 2012 car. The team is using a Ferrari engine and worked to improve the DRS. The team says that it has not had to make too many changes for the new season compared to last year. It took its time to further refine elements from last year's car to improve them.

The STR 7 is the third car designed, produced and assembled entirely by Toro Rosso, built in-house in Faenza, with vital input from the Bicester wind-tunnel crew. The 2012 car has taken the best elements of the previous year’s machine and moved forward from there.

Toro Rosso continues to bet on Ferrari engines to equip its cars for the sixth year in a row.

Quotes:

Daniel Ricciardo

“The car definitely looks sexy. And it’s a bit emotional actually, seeing the first F1 car that will be mine to drive from the start of the season. With the new nose, it’s not exactly beautiful, but I’d rather have a quick car than a pretty one. Now I can’t wait to drive it tomorrow, when I don’t think I’ll need an alarm clock to wake up to start the day.”

Jean-Eric Vergne

“After the testing and all the work in the simulator, being here in Jerez unveiling the car, I feel like this is the real start to my Formula 1 career. It’s very exciting and the next two days are going to seem much too long, while I wait to get behind the wheel of the new car on Thursday and Friday.”