Toro Rosso Retains Kvyat For 2017

KVYAT CONFIRMED AT TORO ROSSO FOR 2017

    Toro Rosso are looking for stability in their driver line up facing the changes coming to the team and Formula One as a whole next season. That means Daniil Kvyat will be staying at the team next year, racing alongside Carlos Sainz Jr.  once again.

    Whilst Sainz’s future had already been confirmed earlier in the season, where Kvyat would be next season was still a mystery. The Russian was linked to Renault and a number of other teams, whilst Franz Tost said earlier in the year he was keen to keep Kvyat on board should his performance improve.

    It a relatively early announcement for Toro Rosso, who have a long list of junior drivers waiting to get their chance in Formula One and the need to keep Kvyat away from the competition most likely came brought the decision forward. Tost shows this is important in light of the upcoming changes.

    “There are so many new elements comin g to Formula 1 in general and to our team specifically, in terms of the chance of power unit supplier, that having the same two drivers gives us stability and a benchmark to work from,” said Tost.

    Tost said it was clear Kvyat was now on top form.

    “I always told him that his future with us was in his hands and he has stepped up to the mark and delivered the sort of performances that have ensured his 2017 seat in the STR 12.”

    Both drivers are happy with the news. Kvyat described the team as “like home” and is aiming high next season.

    “I’m really looking forward to continuing the hard work together in 2017 and I’m really aiming high,” he said. “I will always be fully dedicated, giving my 200%, and I will be pushing as hard as I usually do, that’s for sure. I’m delighted!”

    As great as this may be for Kvyat, it puts doubts on Red Bull Junior Pierre Gasly’s future. The Frenchman is first in line when a Toro Rosso seat comes free. Currently, he’s second in the GP2 championship with two rounds left but, should he take the title, Gasly will face the difficult decision of where to go to continue his career.

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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Toro Rosso Reveal 2016 Livery

The Red Bull and the prancing horse join forces in this year’s Toro Rosso machine. The team launched the STR11 ahead of the second pre-season test.

After a stunning season with the two rookie drivers last year, Toro Rosso’s switch to Ferrari power could lead to embarrassment from the team’s sister team Red Bull, who have stuck with the Renault engines.

“We have been though an incredibly busy three months,” explained James Key, technical director. “Our directions for the STR11 were well established in August last year but when the engine change decision was made we had to put a large part of the project on hold.”

The power unit has dictated a large part of the architecture of the car, meaning development of the STR11 was postponed until after the power unit had been decided. Of course, Toro Rosso rose to the challenge.

Toro Rosso will be the only team on the grid with a year old spec power unit and, though the Ferrari power engine impressed last year, there has been a definite step forward which the team will be missing out on.

“We will need to compensate as best as possible with chassis development,” said Key.

It’s not all change at Toro Rosso, with drivers Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz will be spending their second year in Formula One at the team. The pair go from being rookie’s last year and, with added pressure and added experience, both drivers hope to improve on their impressive rookie seasons.

Toro Rosso’s aim for this year will be the same as last year, taking into account all the changes they’ve faced over the winter and the challenges ahead.

“It will not be easy, but we know that we had the chassis and drivers to achieve that in 2015 but too many problems stood in our way, so we will try again in 2016,” said Key.

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring

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