Ferrari will be the new engine supplier for Scuderia Toro Rosso from 2016 onwards. According to our sources from within the Toro Rosso team, they have struck a deal with Ferrari for 2015 engines in 2016. An announcement is expected shortly.
A Toro Rosso source told F1Today.net: "The team has secured Ferrari engines for the 2016 season. We will be driving with a 2015 specification engine, which has proven to be a fast and reliable package." Toro Rosso was in a hurry to sign a deal with a new engine supplier, as they are on a tight schedule with the development of their new car.
Red Bull Racing has not decided on an engine supplier for next year yet. The Austrian team is still negotiating with Ferrari as well as with Mercedes. Red Bull Racing would love to gain acceds to a 2016 spec Mercedes engine, but remains to be seen if the German car maker is willing to supply the same engines as their own factory team.
Replies (5)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
If this is true, then we could very well see Toro Rosso in front of their sister team next year, unless Red Bull manage to get a contract with Mercedes.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
doubt that very much unless RB are getting a 2016 version of ferrari PU. Major component parts are shared between TR and RB, this would mean that TR would have to develop all these parts themselves. Hope this mess is going to be sorted soon, that Ferrari will supply 2016 engines to RB, so that Merc will have a tougher time than this year.
fastphantom
Posts: 1
But you know what would be great - if RB sign a deal for lets say 2015 Merc engines (now in all seriousness they will not be that much down on HP to the 2016 engine) and with a superior chassis they beat the works team running a 2016 engine. I can't wait
khasmir
Posts: 893
I was thinking the exact same thing.
And RB cannot claim the 2015 Merc (or Ferrari) PU is not competitive which is the main argument they use when threatening to quit F1. The difference compared with their current Renault PU will be huge.
Also, it would be fair for Merc and Ferrari to split the load with RB and TR, else it puts too much pressure on one supplier. But since this is all being decided so late a compromise will have to be made, so giving them 2015 spec PU's does not seem unfair.
khasmir
Posts: 893
I hope this is true and it's not a moment too soon. Now they can finally finish the design of their 2016 car and start building it.
The longer RB waits the more they will be on the back foot. But you can't imagine TR having a PU for next year and RB not...
Time is running out so RB will have to take what they can get and that will probably be a 2015 spec Ferrari or Merc PU.