Toro Rosso launches STR14

Toro Rosso STR14

Toro Rosso has revealed its 2019 Honda-powered STR14 Formula 1 car online, becoming the 2nd team to show the season's new aerodynamic changes. Most noticeable was the different bargeboard arrangement in line with this year's greater aerodynamic restrictions.

The team's blue, silver and red livery, looks slightly brighter owing to the lighter blue color used.

Franz Tost, Toro Rosso team principal, said: "The aim is to always improve in order to compete at the highest possible level and this winter we have worked intensively to bring a few organizational changes, which we hope will help smooth a few issues we experienced in the past.

"We have analyzed all the internal procedures in order to optimize our strengths and minimize our weaknesses.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]"Compared to other teams, Toro Rosso count on a smaller number of people, but the synergies with Red Bull Technology for the non-listed parts, now that Red Bull will also be equipped with the Honda engine, will leave more time for our technical working groups to focus more on the details.

"Attention to detail makes the difference and this translates to more performance."

He said that "most of the remaining parts" will be last year's specification because Toro Rosso would not be able to match Red Bull's rapid development of 2019 parts.

"We have very good technical people to follow the in-house design, and the reliability of last year's synergy project parts will put us in a more favorable situation to develop quicker during the season," Tost added.

Quotes

Alexander Albon (Car#23)
“In general, the way I’ve gone about my career and my racing, is I never set any goals on anything. Every year, it was just each race, take it step by step, focus and race in that session – whatever it would be, practice, qualifying, the race. Just take it as it is. If you start setting long-term goals, you just put unnecessary pressure on yourself. I’m just focused on myself and let’s see how it all goes."

Daniil Kvyat (Car#26)
“We don’t know exactly where we’re going to be. Like everyone else, we are working hard to put the best package together and the best thing I can do for myself is to work as hard as possible on myself and on my performance. I believe in the guys in the team. They know what they’re doing. Me and my engineering crew will do everything we can to squeeze the maximum out of the package we’re given by the team. I think we’re looking good and I feel that everyone is motivated and focused. I can see that, and it gives me confidence for the future."

Franz Tost (Team Principal)
“…as is always the case before the start of a season, it’s too early to say and we don’t want to set a specific target – at least not now. All things considered, the quality of the synergies with Red Bull Technology, the belief in our very high level of in-house technical knowledge, the impressive development trajectory Honda has shown so far, and the couple of strong young drivers we have available make me feel confident…"

Jody Egginton (Deputy Technical Director)
“Nothing has changed in terms of the design process of laying the car out, we just have a few less variables to play with. However, within the framework of a fixed amount of available resource, this can provide an opportunity as it allows more focus on other areas of the car concept which in turn can bring performance."

Graham Watson (Team Manager)
“(Talking about pit-stops)…Last year, we were more consistent and faster than we have been in the previous four years. Over this winter, firstly, we’ve carefully studied videos of our 2018 pit stops and worked a little bit on refinement of positioning. Secondly, we’re going to inherit quite a lot of the wheel nut axle and wheel rim design from Red Bull, we believe that a combination of this and the work on positioning will allow us to improve further. I’m pretty confident we’ll make another step in the right direction."

Toyoharu Tanabe (Honda F1 Technical Director)
“In simple terms, our aim is to achieve better results than in 2018 for both teams. For our partnership with Toro Rosso, that means finishing higher up in the Constructors’ Championship, scoring more points, running more reliably and, maybe even repeating last year’s Bahrain result or doing better."