HONDA RELATIONSHIP CAN REAP REWARDS
The new relationship between Toro Rosso and engine supplier Honda has grown strongly over the winter, according to both sides – despite the two factions only having a few months to prepare for 2018.
The deal to take Honda power to Red Bull’s B team was only struck last September, after a complex negotiation to extract the Japanese brand from its exclusive deal with Mclaren.
Toro Rosso’s Renault engine supply went the other way as part of the deal, meaning the Faenza team had to make sweeping adjustments to fit the new Honda engine into its chassis, while also building a relationship with its new technical partner.
“I am really looking forward to begin this new season and enter a new era for our team, working with Honda,” said Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost. “It’s an exciting time for Toro Rosso because we have never had our own engine supplier before, so to partner with a manufacturer, with the history that Honda has, will be great.
“It is a completely new car, with a new power unit, which has been nicely integrated with support from Honda. I would say that we will have a competitive package this year. We have two drivers new to F1, but they have driven for us in the past and I am sure that if we give them a competitive car they will perform at very high levels.”
Honda’s Katsuhide Moriyama said: “I am delighted that the new car is here and ready to start testing, having been designed and built to a very tight schedule. That is tribute to the dedication of the Honda and Toro Rosso personnel who have already learned to work very well together, developing the STR13 chassis and RA618H power unit package over the short winter months. Now we have eight days to evaluate our progress on the track.”