Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsToro Rosso

Sainz Jr feels big step forward with STR10

Carlos Sainz Jr says Toro Rosso has made a big step forward with the STR10 after introducing new updates at the final test.

Technical director James Key told F1i the updated car would be “a radical difference” from the one which was launched at Jerez, with a new nose the most obvious visual change. Sainz Jr was the first to drive the new car on Thursday and he says the improvement in the performance was immediately obvious to him.

“It felt different and it felt really good to be honest,” Sainz Jr said. “That’s why I want to thank the guys in Bicester for the great job they’ve done because out of the box you could already feel a step forward and a more complete package.

“I always say the first impression from a driver is always very important and that first impression that I got from the car on that out lap when I started pushing was really good. It put me in a positive attitude for the rest of the day and it felt really good to be honest.”

With such a major update, Sainz Jr says the whole car has taken a step forward as a result.

“It’s pure downforce, pure overall grip and better car balance. This obviously helps deliver consistent car balance through corners and overall the easiest thing to feel was a step forward with overall downforce.”

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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.