Toro Rosso likely in damage limitation mode at Spa

Toro Rosso will likely spend the Belgian GP on the back foot as Spa's high-speed profile will only underline the relative weakness of its engine.

While Toro Rosso engine partner Renault has made progress this season its power unit still remains at a fair distance from rivals Ferrari and Mercedes.

As a mid-field contender, the Faenza-based outfit will undoubtedly have its work cut out for it as it visits back to back power tracks Spa and Monza.

"Mid-fast and mid-slow corners are where our car is working quite well, where the engine is not the priority as it is in Canada, Austria, Baku or Silverstone," says team boss Franz Tost.

"I expect once we are in Singapore, America, hopefully also Japan we will be will be quite competitive.

"I expect problems in Spa and Monza because they have such long straights where you simply need the engine power and we all know that we are down there a little."

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Unfortunately, budget constraints will also limit Toro Rosso's potential for development in the second half of the 2017 season. Yet Tost is hopeful the team's performance relative to its rivals won't suffer from a significant drop-off.

"We've upgraded the car, we made some progress, but we are also from this end budget limited," he said.

"We cannot come up like the top teams every race with a lot of upgrades because they have three or four times the money of us.

"We really have to calculate always what we do, how we do it, and so far, I must say we have done a reasonably good job."

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