Toro Rosso expects mistakes

Toro Rosso presented this Monday morning, in Valencia, the STR5, first car entirely designed in Faenza in the history of Toro Rosso, no longer able to benefit from the development work of the sister team, Red Bull. While the STR5 made its first laps this Monday, Toro Rosso recognizes that this single-seater does not present any grandiose developments compared to the 2009 model.

« The STR5 certainly represents more of an evolution than a revolution », admits Ben Butler, designer of the Faenza single-seater, to itv F1. " We took the fantastic 2009 package as a starting point and we didn't want to do too much beyond the modifications and adaptations linked to the rule changes. As a result, the 2010 car can be considered conservative. This approach was dictated in particular due to the fact that the regulations arrived late. »

For his part, Giorgio Ascanelli, technical director of the team, is convinced that this season promises to be under the best auspices. “ First of all, we are blessed with good design. It goes without saying that last year's Red Bull was a very good car. So that will help us this year. There is also the fact that the 2009 car was planned to host the SREC while, this year, all the teams agreed not to use it, making our task easier. »

« The use of the dual diffuser also prompted a redesign of the gearbox, just as having to carry more fuel results in a longer car., continues Ascanelli. We obviously tried to recover some of this length by working on the gearbox. »

« I expect mistakes, we all expect mistakes, admits Ascanelli. That explains why we're here so early. I made sure to get the car onto the tarmac as quickly as possible to give us time to find solutions to the problems we encountered. »