Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsToro Rosso

Key admits 2016 Toro Rosso car compromised

Toro Rosso technical director James Key admits the team's new car has been compromised by the late confirmation of its power unit supply.

With Red Bull's relationship with Renault breaking down in 2015, there was uncertainty over the future of both teams due to numerous quit threats from owner Dietrich Mateschitz. Having moved to terminate its agreement with Renault, Red Bull was unable to secure an alternative engine supply and will now run Tag-Heuer branded Renault power units in 2016.

Toro Rosso was able to reach an agreement with Ferrari for year-old engines, but Key says the uncertainty delayed its technical plans.

"Yes and no, because when you've got a tricky engine situation it's always a compromise," Key told Sky Sports when asked if the new car had been compromised.

"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. Back in March is when you're really getting to grips with what you're trying to do.

"So it does compromise from a technical viewpoint. In terms of what the team is doing, I don't think it makes the slightest bit of difference. You simply shuffle plans around accordingly."

And while Key is confident Toro Rosso will be able to respond with a strong car, he admits the late confirmation "is a massive distraction" for the team.

"We've got various stages of planning, there are some really good guys to work on all this stuff, so we've got a lot of very competent production guys and designers who are working hard to make sure that we're in the best shape possible.

"You'd never want it because it is a massive distraction and it does compromise your car, but it's surprising what you can do when you're faced with uncertainty."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.