Carlos Sainz says he is looking forward to a better season in 2016. Although overshadowed by his meteoric teammate Max Verstappen, the Spanish rookie has also shone at Toro Rosso, outqualifying the highly-rated Dutchman 10-9.
"I can say that (Red Bull driver manager) Helmut Marko is happy," Sainz smiled after Sunday's Abu Dhabi grand prix. "I think that in many ways he was surprised how we have gone this season and how we were able to compete with Red Bull Racing. This gives me cause for optimism and I am waiting for good news from him," he added.
The 'good news' is surely to be a new Toro Rosso contract for Sainz, but also confirmation that the Faenza based team is switching from Renault to Ferrari power. Sainz may have spoken out of turn about the team's Ferrari plans earlier in Abu Dhabi, but even now he says: "I hope that we will have a more powerful engine in 2016."
"While I cannot mention the name of the supplier, I think we could be considered even more of an Italian team after this," he quipped. When asked about Toro Rosso's engine plans for 2016, Christian Horner said in Abu Dhabi: "I can only speak on behalf of Red Bull Racing. You would have to ask Franz Tost about Toro Rosso." (GMM)
Replies (4)
Login to replykhasmir
Posts: 893
I'm a bit confused. Will there be a new rule preventing manufacturers from supplying older or lesser-spec PU's to other teams? Meaning they need to supply the same ones as they are using themselves?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I am pretty sure they've confirmed a few new rules, one of them preventing suppliers to supply customers with engines of older specs
khasmir
Posts: 893
Well, this was announced after a deal was announced between Ferrari and TR for 2015 spec engines. They can't just change the rules at such short notice after deals have been made. But if they did, what happened with this deal? Will TR get 2016 spec Ferrari engines then? All has gone pretty quiet since then...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Sainz here has basically already spoiled that TR will use Ferrari power next year, so we know that now. We'll have to see in a month or so whether they'll use the 2015 spec units or the 2016 spec. Should they get the latter, big sister team Red Bull will likely get beaten by it's junior team.