Toro Rosso aims for Q3 entry with new Honda engine

After releasing the latest specification of its powertrain during free practice on Friday in Sochi, Honda made it available to the drivers Toro Rosso for his entire weekend at home. 

The main team of the Italian team, who told us in Russia that this new version was already better than the propeller Renault, has set high goals for Pierre Gasly et Brendon Hartley on the land of their engine manufacturer.

« With this third engine specification, we must be in Q3 and ahead of Sauber because they are putting a lot of pressure on us in the championship “, said Tost from Suzuka this Friday. 

Charles Leclerc is in fact coming off a double finish in the points in Singapore and Sochi, where the Monegasque signed his most accomplished performance of the season. Ninth in the Manufacturers' standings, the Swiss team is currently just three points behind Toro Rosso.

Honda initially wanted to use its new engine in Russia but concerns over the calibration of the propeller pushed the Sakura firm to fine-tune the settings for the crucial Suzuka meeting. A source close to the Japanese manufacturer explained to us in the Russian paddock that Honda feared vibrations in the engine-gearbox assembly.

« We are not as fast as we would like to be when it comes to development, said Masashi Yamamoto. We managed to correct the calibration issues that appeared in Russia and Franz can expect a competitive weekend ». 

The Honda motorsport manager, however, is speaking a little more cautiously than his partner at Toro Rosso by not announcing a precise objective. 

« The Spec 3 has not yet been raced; this weekend will give us the first opportunity to see it in representative conditions, Yamamoto added. The performance of the car, not just the engine, will be more comparable to our rivals ». 

Toro Rosso hasn’t scored a championship point since Gasly’s 9th place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix.