2007 F1 Preview: Scuderia Toro Rosso
March 2nd 2007 05:18
Car Number 18
Must impress
Stats
D.O.B: 6 August,.1981
Debut: San Marino 2005, RBR
Starts: 22
Wins: 0
Fastest Laps: 0
Poles: 0
Points: 2
Tonio Liuzzi has been around f1 for a couple of seasons now, but he still maintains his rookie image. The 2004 International F3000 Champion was once hyped to be the next big thing, but after playing musical chairs with Christian Klien at RBR in 2005, he was resigned to a seat with backmarker team, STR. Despite scoring the team’s only point Liuzzi failed to capture the imagination of the F1 community. Liuzzi struggles to assert his authority as a serious racer, as he is widely believed to be more interested in the glitzy side of things. Tonio is not slow however, and can perform when he needs to. He outdrove his American teammate last season, and often put his Toro Rosso up into decent spots on the grid. However if Liuzzi wishes to be a mainstay in F1, he must stand up and impress in 2007, no mean feat given the abundance of young drivers who will be vying for our attention.
Car Number: 19
Fast name, but unconvincing on track
Stats:
D.O.B: 24 January, 1983
Debut: Bahrain 2006, Toro Rosso
Starts: 18
Wins: 0
Fastest Laps: 0
Poles: 0
Points: 0
The name doesn’t quite say it all for Scott Speed. The only American in F1 came into the game with plenty of hype and expectations. However, a year of rookie errors and unconvincing race performances has left many feeling uncertain about Speed. Although he wasn’t altogether hopeless in 2006, he didn’t quite seem to display that megastar flair that other rookies like Rosberg and Kubica did. Season 2007 is definitely make or break for Speed. Like his teammate, he must deliver and in style in order to catch the eye of some of F1’s big names. He just doesn’t seem to be convincingly quick enough, not yet anyway.
The Team
Starts:18
Wins: 0
Fastest Laps: 0
Poles: 0
Points: 1
WDC: 0
WCC: 0
Team Principle: Franz Tost
Test Drivers: TBA
All horns and no bull?
Toro Rosso will use controversially, Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey-designed chassis. While this is being allowed via certain loopholes to do with third part intellectual property and engine bays, there are still other ties evident. Red Bull Racing’s contract to Ferrari engines was transferred over to Toro Rosso in order to obtain Renault power for 2007. So essentially in 2007 we have four identical cars with different engines.
Newey's chassis is causing headaches
Like Red Bull Racing, if the Newey designed chassis is made to work, then points should be easy to come across. However, like Red Bull Racing, testing has been poor and it appears now that Newey’s creation is flawed. Another difficult season for Toro Rosso then. A point or two might be salvaged from the wreck of others’ attrition, but probably not enough to keep Mateschitz happy whilst he forks over more millions.
In a Nutshell:
Strengths: Red Bull’s backing; Red Bull Racing’s support
Weaknesses: Customer Ferrari engine iffy; unspectacular drivers
Scoreboard:
Drivers: 5/10
Engine: 6/10
Chassis: 7/10
Resources: 5/10
Personnel: 5/10
Total: 28/50
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