Good news and bad news for Toro Rosso

©ToroRosso

Scuderia Toro Rosso is off to a rocky start in 2018, with a major member of its tech team departing the Faenza-based squad.

Toro Rosso's head of aerodynamics, Brendan Gilhome, has left the team, forcing a reshuffle of its tech staff.

The Australian engineer, who joined the junior bull outfit in 2013, having previously held aero positions at Mercedes and Sauber, had been hard at work alongside chief designer James Key on Toro Rosso's 2018 charger.

Toro Rosso's Key working hard to fit Honda engine

The team did not reveal the reasons behind Gilhome's departure or who could potentially replace him. Toro Rosso may choose to promote deputy head of aerodynamics Ben Mallock or recruit an outside candidate.

The team is also changing its race engineers, with Marco Matassa - who worked for several years alongside Carlos Sainz - moving over to Ferrari where he'll be involved in the Scuderia's young driver programme.

There was also a bit of good news however yesterday in Faenza.

Toro Rosso celebrated its 2018 STR13 chassis passing its mandatory FIA crash test, which prompted team boss Franz Tost to break out the champagne as you can see in the short video below. The team will unveil its 2018 car on February 25, just a day before pre-season testing kicks off in Barcelona.

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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.