Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsToro Rosso

Toro Rosso can achieve some very big things - Sainz

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Carlos Sainz is all smiles this week in Barcelona, boasting a sense of achievement following another mammoth day out on the race track yesterday with Toro Rosso's new STR11.

The Spaniard clocked in at the end of the afternoon with 166 laps under his belt, the most of any driver on Wednesday, thus demonstrating that the Faenza-based outfit's 2015 reliability woes are now a thing of the past.

"That was our main focus," Sainz acknowledged. "To do so many laps is such a big achievement for the team after such a tough winter.

"To keep doing laps and being the second best team in terms of mileage just behind Mercedes shows what this team can do. Very big things, very great things.

"It’s why you see everyone with a smile including myself because I am calm and the homework is so far being completed."

Despite the massive mileage, Sainz was quick to point out that the team's current position within the hierarchy is still uncertain.

"We haven’t seen what we are capable of doing. We spent a lot of time on the mediums because it is was our weakest tyre last year and we wanted to push on the tyre to see what we were missing and see how we can improve it.

"On the last day you will see more of where we are but even if we put the tyre in, we will not know where we are.

"I am sorry for you guys but you will need to wait until Melbourne, even though we are all trying to answer the questions by looking at lap times and fuel loads."

When questioned about Ferrari's problems this week in Barcelona, and the prospect of racing with the Italian squad's 2015 power unit, Sainz offered a measued response.

"Are they having problems? I will tell you in Australia if I like it or not because they could come up with a lot of horsepower and reliability and we would look stupid in Melbourne."

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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.