After testing Honda’s new spec-three power unit in Russia, Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost said the Japanese manufacturers’s upgrade had moved them in front of Renault.
The result of today’s qualifying session gives plenty of support to that claim. While Max Verstappen’s Renault-powered Red Bull was ahead of both Toro Rosso-Hondas, it is undoubtedly a much better chassis. It was also the only Renault motor to reach Q3, while both Hondas were there.Pierre Gasly said it was clear the team’s new engine has given it a significant performance boost, though he wouldn’t put a number on it.
“Overall I would say it’s a big improvement and we can really thank them for that,” he said. “I don’t know exactly how much we’ll be able to extract over a race distance but over one lap it’s clearly a big step.”
Toro Rosso managed their best two-car qualifying result since the first race of last season. They posted the second-largest year-on-year lap time improvement of any team which is the best they’ve done all year.
Only Sauber, who used year-old engines last season, found more lap time around Suzuka than Toro Rosso. For the 10th (applicable) race in a row, Sauber made the biggest year-on-year lap time gain of any team.
Qualifying was disrupted by rain and as such it’s likely we didn’t see the best from all the teams. For only the second time this year, no one lapped quicker than the best time seen in 2017:
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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erikje
6th October 2018, 15:38
Let’s hope for next year there really is a contest.
Jere (@jerejj)
6th October 2018, 16:31
Shame that the rain had to come and ruin the chance(s) to beat the outright track record.
Robbie (@robbie)
6th October 2018, 19:49
Much comes down to how well it works for them in Sundays when it really counts. Encouraging for today no question, but the Honda Pu must get more powerful and be reliable too, naturally.
ajaya
7th October 2018, 7:27
wonder what alonso and brawn have to say now.. lol