Having secured Renault F1 engines for 2017, joining sister team Red Bull Racing in receiving power from the French manufacturer next season, the Scuderia Toro Rosso squad is hopeful of also being able to share data and technology with the Milton Keynes based team too.
The sharing of information has been an option for the Faenza-based squad in the past, before Toro Rosso opted to use a 2015 specification Ferrari engine this year, and the squad would welcome being benefactors of that luxury once again.
Speaking to Autosport.com Toro Rosso Technical Chief, James Key, explained the bonus of such a set-up.
“It always makes sense if you have two F1 teams, to have levels of overlap between those teams. We moved away from Renault as there was uncertainty as to what they would be doing as it wasn’t clear if they would buy the Enstone team [formerly Lotus].”
“And we knew there were some troubles that were affecting both teams a little bit – but a lot of those have gone away.
“The intention was when we first went to Renault was to have the same engine [as Red Bull] because you have overlap of power unit related technology which can be shared. That is shared, it’s not sold from one team to another.
“It gives you the ability to come up with a solution which suits both teams and you cut out as a result two R&D streams as you have one.
“We have had gearbox internals, but you can extend that to maybe items of the fuel system, hydraulic systems, perhaps exhaust design, some of the electronics.
“Where that can be common, it makes a huge amount of sense, there is definitely cost saving in there. Most of that to be honest is on non-performance differentiators.”
Red Bull have confirmed to Autosport.com that an exchange of data is something they would consider, where possible and worthwhile, so Toro Rosso could get their wish.
Key has been impressed with the way Renault have improved their engine performance this year and is confident of strong results when they return to Renault power in 2017.
“Renault have really turned a corner significantly this year and that gives us a lot of confidence going back.
“We’ve had one year with Ferrari and we can go back with a lot more confidence that the operation is in much better shape than it was before.
“Not only have they got on top of some of their reliability issues but they are clearly finding real decent performance.”
