Formula 1

Toro Rosso Trio Enjoy Challenge on Monte Carlo in Thursday Practice

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Three Toro Rosso drivers all enjoyed being back at Monaco as they competed in at least one of the two Thursday practice sessions around the streets of the principality.

“This is a great circuit with a fantastic atmosphere so I always love driving here, even though it is very demanding,” said Sebastien Buemi, who was in the car for both sessions and finished the day fourteenth on the timesheets.

“This year, they have resurfaced mostof the track and it's nearly not a street circuit anymore, with a really good asphalt. Technically, this has been a positive first day and we have an extra day to analyse all the data, which will be very useful.

“We got a good picture of tyre behaviour, with the Super Soft appearing to be much quicker, which will be useful in qualifying, but also in the race, because the high level of degradation we had expected to see with this tyre did not actually happen today.

“Right at the end of the second session, I clipped the barrier at Tabac with the rear of the car, doing some damage to the rear suspension and therefore I had to pit.”

Australian rookie Daniel Ricciardo, the Toro Rosso test and reserve driver, was in the car for the morning session, which he finished as the fourteenth fastest driver. He pointed out the other driving he did today, making him one of the hardest working men in Monte Carlo.

“I went through the basics this morning, looking at things like ride height and aero level on the car, gathering data to help the team,” he explained. “We had a detailed look at the KERS, working out the best way to use it at this track. Before driving the F1 car, I had a practice session for the World Series. That was a good experience, because not many drivers get to drive two sessions in a morning, in beautiful race cars in Monaco!

“Your first time driving Monaco in a Formula 1 car is always going to be difficult so it was good to go out in the other carand see the track again for the first time since last year. Driving a Formula 1 car round here is really crazy and a lot of fun.”

Jaime Alguersuari was back in his race car for the afternoon session. He finished it seventeenth on the timesheets and, whilst relishing being back on this twisty circuit, is not particularly happy about the set-up of his STR6.

“I enjoy the challenge of this street circuit,” the Spaniard said. “It was a useful afternoon's testing for me that highlighted many things we need to look at in detail now. I am not so sure about the situation regarding tyre degradation: my initial reaction is that the long runs looked reasonable.

“At the moment, the main thing I need is to get a bit more confidence in the car. Since Spain, I have not had a good feeling from the brakes and I am losing the rear end of the car a lot, so we need to work on that aspect. I am sure we can sort it out, because we know what we need to do and how to do it.”

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David is an occasional contributer to the site on matters related to Formula 1. You can follow him on twitter at @Dr_Bean.
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