During a Toro Rosso filming day, running for the STR12 was hampered by a persistent ERS problem. The car only managed six laps at the Misano circuit, and the mechanics of the development team of Red Bull were not able to get the car running again, sources inside the Italian team told F1Today.net.
Toro Rosso will present the STR12 on Sunday, February 26th. The Italian squad will race with engine supplier Renault after a year with old specification Ferrari engines. The French manufacturer has gone for a different approach in 2017 to the power unit. Motor boss Remi Taffin previously revealed that the new power unit would be 95 percent different than the previous spec.
The new V6 turbo would supposedly gain three tenths per lap. Renault director Cyril Abiteboul however also announced that the French brand's first focus would be on the reliability. Reliability was not on the side of Toro Rosso during the filming day as the Red Bull junior team came nowhere near the allowed 100 kilometers.
Toro Rosso will drive in 2017 the same power unit as big brother Red Bull Racing, with both teams carrying Renault units. Spokeswoman Tabatha Valls responded to our editorial staff: "Sorry, we never go into situations of film days."
Fergal Walsh
What a joke, I'd be deeply worried if I was Renault, RB or STR..
The wrong engine blew, it should have been the merc engines on the works team. Here's hoping to that.
Remember last year when the mercs did 2 race distances per day without problems in pre-season testing, and then had lots of engine problems during the year...
I expect Renault and Honda engines to fail at this stage. And it also makes sense that Renault uses its clients to test different settings...
???would so like to see Cyril AbideBullshts face!
They were no doubt very reliable last year, but that doesnt mean anything this year. If they sacrificed reliability for more power Red Bull will probably not be pleased. Either way we cannot really say anything yet: this unit is probably very raw compared to the version we'll see in Australia in a few weeks.
A "persistant ERS problem"is not an "engine failure“, it’s a power plant problem.
As the ERS system comprises of two motor generator units, the MGU(H) and MGU(K); it could be one of these that is causing the problem or the electronics of the systems so the core engine could be OK.
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Kevin
Posts: 5,341
It's just the first test. That's what testing is for. I'd be more worried if it becomes a trend during next week.