Sainz: “The chances of a podium will be rare”

With 4883 km covered in eight days of driving, Toro Rosso concluded Barcelona's pre-season testing with the second best total behind Mercedes. A certain reliability which rewarded the efforts of the Faenza team after hard work during the winter to adapt the Power Unit Ferrari 2015 on the STR11, replacing the block Renault seen over the last two seasons.

Fifth cumulative time of these tests, Carlos Sainz does not want to get ahead in terms of results for the first races of the year. “I think the chances of a podium will be rare, admits the Spaniard, quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

I don't think under normal circumstances this is possible. Mercedes and Ferrari are on another planet. Williams et Red Bull should also play leading roles. We aspire to be the fifth force on the grid, so placing 9th or 10th does not make it easier to get on the podium. »

In our last issue of AUTOhebdo, Franz Tost, boss of Toro Rosso, remained optimistic for his team and put forward the same objectives as his driver. “Our ambition is 5th place in the Manufacturers' Championship, and we will have to score points regularly to achieve this. »

Find the report from the second week of the Barcelona tests, in issue 2053 of AUTOhebdo, already available in digital version, and on newsstands tomorrow.