Verstappen claims new Toro Rosso up to a second quicker
Max Verstappen says Toro Rosso’s 2016 Formula One car is as much as a second per lap faster than last year’s model, thanks to a switch to Ferrari engines.
Max Verstappen has said that Toro Rosso’s 2016 Formula One car is between eight tenths and one second per lap faster than the team’s 2015 machine, attributing the gain to the team’s new Ferrari engine supply.
Toro Rosso struggled with its Renault power unit throughout 2015, despite a chassis widely regarded as one of the best outside the top teams. For 2016, the Faenza-based squad has switched to year-old Ferrari engines, a move Verstappen described as a “big change” for the team. Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport, Verstappen said the step in performance is greater than the incremental gains expected by teams sticking with updated versions of their previous engines.
Ferrari engines bring new potential
Toro Rosso’s 2015 campaign was defined by strong qualifying performances undermined by a lack of straight-line speed and reliability issues from the Renault engine. With the 2016 car now powered by Ferrari’s 2015-specification engine, Verstappen expects the team to make a greater leap than rivals who are continuing with the same engine supplier. This change could help Toro Rosso challenge more consistently in the midfield and potentially threaten the established order on certain circuits.
Implications for the 2016 Formula One season
A one-second improvement per lap would be a substantial step in Formula One, where the midfield is often separated by tenths. If realised in race conditions, this could see Toro Rosso regularly competing for higher points positions and putting pressure on teams who previously had a comfortable margin. The change also raises expectations for Verstappen and his team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr, both of whom impressed in their rookie year despite the car’s power deficit.
For more on Verstappen’s rapid rise and the team’s internal dynamics, see Verstappen likened to Marquez by Toro Rosso engineer.
