F1: Tost - Toro Rosso Wants Renault Deal For 2014

Formula 1

F1: Tost - Toro Rosso Wants Renault Deal For 2014

STR does not yet have an engine contract for the first year of the new turbo era...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted February 05, 2013 Jerez (ESP)

Team boss Franz Tost speaks at the launch of the new Toro Rosso car. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has confirmed that he would like the team switch to Renault power for 2014.

Like several other teams, STR does not yet have a contract for the first year of the new turbo era.

Tost said that sharing the same powerplant as sister team Red Bull Racing would have obvious benefits in the build-up to 2014 – which could, of course, include using a RBR gearbox along with other systems.

“It has not been decided yet,” he said. “We are in negotiation with Renault, and then we will see. No contract is signed so far.

“We need to know as soon as possible, because, as you know, the earlier [you sign] with partners, the easier it is to go into detail and sort out all the open questions, because next year’s drivetrain package is very complicated.

“Not so much from the engine side, but much more from the turbo, because of the heat, from the air system, and then as well from the gearbox. This complete package has to become one unit, and you need to know as soon as possible who are our partners.”

Asked by SPEED.com if Ferrari had indicated that it didn’t have the capacity to supply STR, he said: “No, Ferrari didn’t say that they are not able to supply more teams. It’s our target to run the same engine as Red Bull Racing is using, to use the synergies which are possible from the relation side. That’s the reason why.”

Tost stressed how complicated the new package will be: “As we look into the 2014 regulations, the more we know about this, the more question marks are coming up. This will be a really difficult issue from the technical side as well as from the economical side. It’s a great challenge for all of us.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 28th season as a racing journalist in 2012. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter