Toro Rosso Calls for End to Engine Uncertainty After Delays
Toro Rosso's technical chief says engine supply delays have compromised car development, as the team urges a swift resolution to ongoing power unit uncertainty.
Toro Rosso has called for an end to ongoing uncertainty over its Formula One engine supply, with technical director James Key confirming that delays in securing a power unit for 2016 have compromised the team's car development.
The Italian-based squad, Red Bull’s junior team, announced in December 2015 that it would switch from Renault to a year-old Ferrari engine for the 2016 season. This late confirmation followed months of negotiations as Red Bull and Toro Rosso both sought alternatives after a difficult partnership with Renault. Although the Ferrari deal had reportedly been in place for several weeks prior, Key admitted that the team’s designers would have preferred clarity months earlier.
“There is a compromise because you’ve really got to be optimising your car around what is an incredibly complicated installation of these power units,” Key told Sky Sports. He explained that the ideal scenario would have seen Toro Rosso’s technical team working with a confirmed engine partner as early as March, rather than shuffling plans throughout the year. The uncertainty forced the team to adapt its production and design schedules, and Key described the situation as a “massive distraction.”
Impact on Car Development and Team Performance
Toro Rosso’s 2015 car, the STR10, was praised for its aerodynamic efficiency, matching the apex speeds of front-running teams in medium and high-speed corners. Despite the late engine decision, Key is confident that the team can build on last season’s progress. He said the team learned valuable lessons from the previous year and made a bigger step than expected, setting a foundation for further gains even with an older Ferrari power unit.
The delay in securing the engine deal, however, has forced compromises in the integration of the power unit into the new STR11 chassis. Key acknowledged that while technical optimisation has been affected, the team’s production staff and designers have worked to minimise the impact. The team’s ability to adapt under pressure has been tested, but Key insisted that Toro Rosso would not let the disruption derail its ambitions for 2016.
Engine Reliability and Supplier Tensions
Engine supply uncertainty has not been limited to Ferrari. In 2017, Toro Rosso faced public disputes with Renault over reliability concerns, with both sides trading statements about the causes of repeated power unit failures. The team argued that a lack of new parts from Renault forced them to run old specifications and swap components between cars, costing them points and positions in the Constructors’ Championship. This tension was heightened by the fact that Renault’s own works team was a direct competitor for sixth place in the standings at the time.
Despite these challenges, Toro Rosso’s management and technical staff have consistently called for greater stability and clarity in engine supply arrangements. The team’s experience across multiple seasons highlights the difficulties faced by customer teams when engine deals are uncertain or concluded late in the design cycle.
Looking Ahead to the New Season
With the switch to Ferrari power for 2016 confirmed only weeks before the new year, Toro Rosso enters pre-season preparations with less time than rivals to optimise its car around the chosen engine. The team will run a year-old Ferrari unit, which presents its own performance limitations compared to the latest specification used by the works team. Nevertheless, Key remains optimistic that the team’s strong aerodynamic base and lessons learned from previous seasons will allow Toro Rosso to remain competitive in the midfield.
For more on Toro Rosso’s technical progress and the team’s approach to engine supply negotiations, seeRenault Reveals Engine Talks with Toro Rosso.
