Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has revealed his surprise at Sauber’s decision to use year-old Ferrari engines in 2017.
It was confirmed last month that the Swiss team would replicate what Toro Rosso themselves have done this season by using an old-specification power unit produced at Maranello.
While the junior Red Bull squad has enjoyed a successful season, mainly through Carlos Sainz, the inability to improve the engine has seen them struggle since the summer break.
The chassis has been the key reason for their success, but as they attempted to overcome the lack of power by reducing downforce it actually exaggerated the problem.
Switching back to their strength in Austin boosted Toro Rosso’s result, as Sainz finished sixth, but they did struggle again on the straights in Mexico and could find it hard going this weekend in Interlagos.
When asked about Sauber’s decision to run a 2016-spec power unit next year, Tost said: “I don’t know all the reasons and background stories why Sauber decided to go with this year’s engine.
“I wouldn’t like to be in this situation because it’s a big disadvantage on the performance side to run with last year’s engine.”
The main reason is likely to be financial as the Hinwil team continue to re-find their footing following a takeover in the summer, publicly, they claim it is familiarity with the current unit as they work of developing the new 2017 chassis.
Another possible factor is Haas becoming the closest customer team to Ferrari after Sauber spent years in that position. Without the same co-operation as before and the American team now the Scuderia’s preferred place to put it’s young drivers, speculation has arisen the Swiss outfit may even switch to Honda in 2018.
Regardless, previous efforts had been made to try and forbid teams from purchasing old power units but Tost believes it woul be wrong to do so as the penalty for any team who wants to do so is already sufficient.
“From the regulation side, I think it should be kept open because a one year old engine is most-often cheaper than the newest specification,” he said.
“From the performance side the team anyway is disadvantaged, therefore, the regulation should allow it.”
As for Toro Rosso themselves, after the somewhat rushed deal with Ferrari, when relations between Red Bull and Renault were at a low last year, the Faenza-based team will switch back to the French manufacturer and use the latest specification power unit from 2017.
