2017 Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 Team - Renault

[NathanOlder]

Ouch, bit of a pain.

Gasly's final race in Super Formula is cancelled


http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2017/1 ... cancelled/

[Manoah2u]

sorry but that's pretty funny actually

[godlameroso]

TR is in the best position it's ever had, since 2008 Italy. Since the new crop of Honda road cars have taken a massive leap forward coincidentally timed with their McLaren partnership, I'm sure what they stand to gain from TR essentially guarantees that James Key is going to be able to do what he wants as far as design is concerned, with some caveats of course. In exchange his team gets to see what they're capable of with serious backing, no doubt there is potential at Faenza. 2010 and 2012 Sauber were good cars that could have been better.

Don't get me wrong, the Honda engine is still the weak point, however it's clear to see they're gaining on Renault every race, and it could be that next year the engine is becoming competitive enough that TR can be in the upper midfield.

[makecry]

TR is in the best position it's ever had, since 2008 Italy. Since the new crop of Honda road cars have taken a massive leap forward coincidentally timed with their McLaren partnership, I'm sure what they stand to gain from TR essentially guarantees that James Key is going to be able to do what he wants as far as design is concerned, with some caveats of course. In exchange his team gets to see what they're capable of with serious backing, no doubt there is potential at Faenza. 2010 and 2012 Sauber were good cars that could have been better.

Don't get me wrong, the Honda engine is still the weak point, however it's clear to see they're gaining on Renault every race, and it could be that next year the engine is becoming competitive enough that TR can be in the upper midfield.

I honestly doubt that. For Toro Rosso to be in upper midfield, they would have to produce a really good chassis AND Honda would have to get on top of it's issues. If you are waiting on the mythical spec4 , It doesn't exist tbh. If it did, we would have seen something by now but all we have seen is 3-4bhp upgrades.

[restless]

My prediction is that next year TR will be where Mclaren is now - 9th, probably fighting for 8th - and 8th place will be success

- no good drivers able to outperform. Kvyat is good when his head works. Big ? how to fix him... as good as Gasly may be, its obvious he's not another Verstappen/Ricciardo (and Sainz/Kvyat were pretty even when in one team with current RB drivers)
- no big resources to develop during the season. Afaik it was announced that Honda won't pay big money, just free engines.
- big big quations about Honda and are Japanese engineers able to deliver. So far Hasegawa achieved nothing. His "leadership" is worse than Arai, and thats something!

[Manoah2u]

Good job of Kvyat grabbing a point in Austin!

[dren]

Hartley looked way off the pace.

[godlameroso]

My prediction is that next year TR will be where Mclaren is now - 9th, probably fighting for 8th - and 8th place will be success

- no good drivers able to outperform. Kvyat is good when his head works. Big ? how to fix him... as good as Gasly may be, its obvious he's not another Verstappen/Ricciardo (and Sainz/Kvyat were pretty even when in one team with current RB drivers)
- no big resources to develop during the season. Afaik it was announced that Honda won't pay big money, just free engines.
- big big quations about Honda and are Japanese engineers able to deliver. So far Hasegawa achieved nothing. His "leadership" is worse than Arai, and thats something!

Free engines, and free tech support frees up close to €50 million in additional funds to TR's budget.

[restless]

Hartley looked way off the pace.

hartley finished less than 30sec after Kvyat - so pretty good, not worse than Gasly IMO

And even with 50mln more TR can't get more people just like that.
And they are already late to prepare for 2018.
Best possibility is they reach parity for EU starts in May.
IF, IF, IF Honda ever delivers good& reliable engine.

[FW17]

It would be nice if Brandon used a black cap

[Phil]

So it looks like Kvyat is out at Mexico again, making way for Gasly and Hartley. Could this actually be a good sign for Kvyat? Is this Torro-Rosso evaluating both Gasly and Hartley against each other?

[Restomaniac]

So it looks like Kvyat is out at Mexico again, making way for Gasly and Hartley. Could this actually be a good sign for Kvyat? Is this Torro-Rosso evaluating both Gasly and Hartley against each other?

I fail to see how being 'sacked' 3 times is ever good.

[Phil]

Well, he's contracted to RedBull regardless if he gets to drive or not. Torro-Rosso placing Gasly and Hartley into both cars could mean that they are evaluating them against one another. I thought this may be perhaps a sign that they are trying to find the best solution for 2018, which could be Kvyat with either Gasly or Hartley. The only way to evaluate both newcomers is to put them against each other.

[Restomaniac]

Well, he's contracted to RedBull regardless if he gets to drive or not. Torro-Rosso placing Gasly and Hartley into both cars could mean that they are evaluating them against one another. I thought this may be perhaps a sign that they are trying to find the best solution for 2018, which could be Kvyat with either Gasly or Hartley. The only way to evaluate both newcomers is to put them against each other.

I think you are reaching. What we do know is that he has been removed from a RedBull group car 3 times of which at least twice has been embarrassing and soul destroying for Kyvat.

What does Kyvat need? To be in the bloody car to build confidence for 2018 not to be shelved again (If that is all it is). All this current removal after 1 race does is give Kyvat another massive kick in the spuds.

[NathanOlder]

Surely Gasly vs Hartley is insane. Gasley is young and winning most things he enters. Hartley is at the other end and on the way down now Porsche are out and LMP1 H not looking good.

Unless Honda are having some influence