Carlos Sainz Jr has revealed he is confident that the Scuderia Toro Rosso team will have a strong package in 2017, after proving to the Spaniard that their chassis is good in the past few years.
The Spaniard is participating in his third campaign with the Faenza-based outfit, and is hopeful of his strongest year yet, with his target being to finish inside the top ten.
The STR12 has similar front suspension, sidepod and nose layout to that on the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team’s W08 that was launched earlier in the week, and Sainz is hopeful this helps push the team to new levels of competitiveness.
“I first need to try it and compare it to others on track, and see it on the stopwatch a bit, probably in the second week of testing, but at least the car, when it looks similar to the car that is winning every race, it gives me confidence and a good feeling,” said Sainz on Motorsport.com.
“I think Toro Rosso can be confident because if there is something they showed in the last three years, it is that they are able to do some good aerodynamics.
“With all these new regulations coming up I have confidence in the team that we can create a good base. [We will] probably not win the championship, I am not asking for that, but a weapon that allows us to be in the top ten, that is what I expect and I really hope for.
“And then there will be development. This year I know there is going to be massive development and I really hope we can hold onto it like we were not able to do last year because of the engine compromise.”
