Renault

he latest team with a new name (until Racing Point becomes Aston Martin), the old Toro Rosso squad is perhaps trying to distance itself from big brother Red Bull and looks to be doing a pretty good job. Armed with a repackaged Honda engine, this team could spring a few surprises this year so long as it keeps Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly under control.

Alphatauri obviously still has access to certain components from Red Bull and seems to have packaged them well, particularly around the rear suspension and a tightly sculptured engine cover that feeds air nicely to the rear wing.

The front wing and nose certainly look to be one of the most interesting areas, with wide, spread pylons helping to stabilise the front wing assembly. The undercut of the nose helps direct the air onto a flat plane feeding directly onto the T-tray, not

Tusing fences as most other teams have done. The flap arrangement does differ from Red Bull’s in that the team has opted to keep the inboard section more heavily loaded, thereby channelling more air through to the bargeboard section.

Looking at the front suspension, it is similar to the Red Bull’s in that Alphatauri has kept the top wishbone pick-up on the upright low, which means that the wishbone itself rises towards the chassis, giving less camber change on bump. The third damper is exactly the same and the ‘junior’ team has also adopted the multi-link top wishbone.

There were interesting battles going on between Gasly and Alex Albon in the Red Bull during the February tests, with long-run pace similar, and honours were pretty much even.

Toro Rosso was a fine sixth in the constructors’ championship last year and there are signs that Alphatauri can fight for a similar spot in 2020.