Franz Tost has revealed some of the reshuffles undertaken by Toro Rosso F1 after Daniil Kvyat’s comment on team being able to do what they couldn’t in the past.
Having re-joined Toro Rosso after a year’s gap, Kvyat has equaled Jean-Eric Vergne’s record of 58 starts with the team this weekend in Canada. After a dismal run to end his second stint with Toro Rosso, Kvyat has started his third stint on a positive note.
Some of it, the Russian noted was down to Toro Rosso’s changes which has helped them to achieve things now, what they couldn’t before. “Lately it’s been getting better and better, so I’m pretty happy with things, how they are going, the way they are moving,” said Kvyat.
“I wanted to come back to F1 as an improved version of myself. I think I’m managing to do that so far. And I’m happy with where the team is going to be honest. I’ve seen a lot of things in Toro Rosso and now I think I’m happy with the team around me.
“The guys are doing a very good job this year, I think improving many things that in the past were maybe holding this team back, and I’m happy to contribute, to help the team improve these things. I think the team is moving in a good direction.
“In the winter there was a plan to improve certain areas that in the past weren’t fantastic. It’s important to see that it’s getting better. Also, our car, I think, is showing consistent performance on most kinds of track and me likewise.
“I wanted to work on certain things for my comeback in F1. There’s been a lot of good work put in behind the scenes and it’s paying off, which I am very pleased to see. Hopefully it will carry on like that.” What the Russian mentioned, was then clarified by Tost.
“We reshuffled our aerodynamic department,” he said. “We changed a lot in the production to increase the quality. Also in the assembling we changed many working methods and processes and I think everything together came up with the result that the car is quite good.
“So far Toro Rosso has a competitive package together. We have a car that is fast, a car that works well from the mechanical side as well as the aerodynamic. And with Honda we have a very strong partner on the power unit side.
“We have two competitive, high-skilled drivers. Both of them are doing a really good job and the team is improving as well. The complete package, I must say, currently is quite good.” The team did lose James Key to McLaren but Jody Egginton took over well.
Aside the team changes, Tost had full praise for Kvyat and his maturity. He feels the work with Ferrari in the simulator has helped him immensely. In addition, he had high word for rookie Alexander Albon too, who has impressed many in his debut F1 season so far.
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