Honda sets bold top-3 target with Toro Rosso!

Honda is hoping its new partnership with Scuderia Toro Rosso will ultimately see the Faenza-based outfit challenge for a spot among the top-three teams in F1 in 2018.

The Japanese manufacturer and McLaren announced their long-awaited split yesterday in Singapore and Honda will now transfer its hardware to Toro Rosso.

"It is true that we have gone through a very tough situation now and nobody was satisfied... especially the board," said Katsuhide Moriyama, Honda’s chief officer brand and communication.

"It is our goal to overcome this tough challenge and get back to fighting with the front-runners of the sport.

"Our spirit, Honda’s spirit, is going to come back and for next year our goal is to fight for the top three at the front of the grid."

Honda's aim to race at the front next season is a tall order given the extraordinarily painful trials and tribulations it has endured in the past three years.

Toro Rosso commits to multi-year agreement with Honda

Toro Rosso tech boss James Key sees challenges ahead but is confident the Red Bull junior team can deliver the goods alongside its new partner.

"It will be a question of adaption of our plans rather than a wholesale change and we are in the process of re-planning our design and production activities in conjunction with Honda to ensure that we both hit all our important deadlines," said Key.

"There are some challenges to face given the time of year but Toro Rosso has faced many difficult tasks with timing in the past and has the flexibility to deal with it.

"We will be working hard not to only re-design the PU installation but also ensure that this has minimal or no effect on the ongoing development work for 2018 – that is our current target.

"The architecture of the car will change in line with the PU requirements and our chassis and gearbox designs are currently under review to be adapted accordingly.

"Similarly we will be working closely with Honda on the performance aspects of the PU installation that the chassis will influence to ensure we maximise the potential of the package as a whole from the outset.

"We look forward to a strong, stable and proactive partnership with our colleagues at Honda."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.