Toro Rosso Thinking of Tactical Engine Penalties

Toro Rosso are currently toying with the idea of tactical engine penalties with Honda later this season. The idea is for the team to enjoy the benefit of using a fourth fresh engine.

This season, engine allocation have dropped from four to three units. Also, just two MGU-K, energy store and control electronics elements can be used for the full 21-race schedule.

All manufacturers, are hard at work improving engine reliability. This is why teams are considering taking tactical engine penalties.

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost said, “There will come the period where we have to find out if is it better to start with a new power unit from the back instead of using an engine that will have 3000-4000 kilometres on it, and you start losing power after one or two hundred kilometres.”

“So we will see. But I can tell you now that we will have this discussion. I don’t know when, but we will have it.”

Both Red Bull and Toro Rosso have voiced their disapproval of the additional limitation introduced this year. But they know that the issue will be dealt with nevertheless.

Last year manufacturers tried with four engines and less races, and this year we have more races and less engines,” he said.

“I must only say they are totally crazy with this regulation.

“But Ferrari was against it [changing the rules], because others wanted to go with four. They [Ferrari] think they have an advantage with three. And it is within the regulations so we have to live with it.

“We have to accept it and how many power units at the end we will need I don’t know.”

The team have had an up and down season so far with their best finish being a 4th place in Bahrain. But in the last race in China, the teammates collided and it wrecked both their races.