Toro Rosso STR12 not a 'blue Mercedes' insists Key

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When Toro Rosso unleashed its charging STR12 bull yesterday, there were many that pointed to the cars' striking resemblance to Mercedes W08.

Tech boss James Key says that resemblance to the W08 was purely coincidental, and "unfortunate".

"All just coincidence," Key told quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

"We did not get any new people from Mercedes or vice versa.

"When I saw the pictures of the Mercedes last Thursday, I was a bit annoyed at first. But then it pleased me -- if Mercedes has the same ideas as us, we can't be far wrong.

"Now I hope that our Renault engine is as good as the Mercedes," he added.

The particular common area of interest on the two cars appears to be their front end.

"To be honest, I'm surprised that only Mercedes and us have gone in this direction," Key commented.

The British engineer also underlined some interesting designs included by other teams.

"The Ferrari looks interesting in the area of the sidepods. This is a completely new approach that we need to look at more closely.

"There are also some interesting aspects on the McLaren and the Haas," he concluded.

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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.