Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost is eager to claim back fifth place in the constructors’ championship after Williams overtook them in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Thanks to rookie Lance Stroll securing his maiden podium in Formula 1 after finishing in third place, the 15 points the 18-year old scored meant Williams lead Toro Rosso by four points heading to Austria.
Tost said: “We knew from the beginning that both Canada and Azerbaijan are race tracks that are not in our favour but, nevertheless, we scored some points.
“Unfortunately, we’ve lost the fifth position in the constructors’ championship to Williams. Now we have to fight back but I’m positive that, earlier or later, we will be back in that position.
“We now go to Austria, where we hope to be prepared as well as possible in order to finish with both cars in the points.”
The Italian outfit still managed to take away points from Baku with Carlos Sainz taking the chequered flag down in eighth place, this was a remarkable turnaround after the Spaniard spun trying to avoid his team-mate Daniil Kvyat returning onto the track.
“Carlos did a very good comeback, as he was able to overtake some rivals. Tost added. “The race was then red-flagged, which meant we could put on the super-soft tyres.
“When the race restarted, he overtook Alonso and he was catching Magnussen, finishing P8 in the end. The car performance in the race was quite good and, without starting from the back or if we hadn’t had the problem at the start, I think Carlos could’ve finished in P7.”
Kvyat failed to finish the race, an electrical issue stopped his STR12 out on track just after Turn 12. This prompted the first safety car of the afternoon, which then led to some of the most chaotic parts of the race.
The Russian added: “I watched the race with a very heavy heart because there was so much going on and I really wanted to be part of it! It’s extremely disappointing because I think we could’ve scored good points today.
“Unfortunately, the car just shut itself off and let us down… Up until the race, the weekend had been perfect and I tried my best but, when things out of my control happen, I can’t do more.
“I will keep on fighting and working hard; I just need to do my job like I always do and not let days like this get me down.”
