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Alonso: "Toro Rosso should be worried about Honda"

Published on 13 Nov 2017 12:57
12
By: Rob Veenstra

Toro Rosso should be "seriously worried" about its forthcoming future with Honda power. Actually, boss Franz Tost said he is confident Honda will sort out its problems over the winter and have a strong power unit to supply to the team next year.

And Tost also seems keen to put the Renault era behind him, given the scale of his dispute with Cyril Abiteboul in Brazil. Some even fear Renault will withhold engines from Toro Rosso in Abu Dhabi, but advisor Alain Prost insisted: "Of course Toro Rosso will have engines from us in Abu Dhabi."

He also rejected Tost's insinuation that Renault might be deliberately sabotaging the equipment supplied to Toro Rosso. "Renault has been involved in formula one for so many years, and we have always given everyone the same opportunities," he is quoted by Speed Week. "We would never play dirty to win a place in the world championship."

As for Toro Rosso's Honda deal for 2018, though, Alonso thinks the team should be "seriously worried". The Spaniard again enthused about his McLaren chassis at Interlagos, but said the power deficit on the straight lines was nothing short of shocking. "The lack of power should be worrying for Toro Rosso next year," he said.

As for whether he is worried about switching to Renault, however, given the French marque's reliability problems of late, Alonso has no doubts. "Renault is the best engine manufacturer in formula one of the last 15 years," he insisted. "They won more titles than anyone, so I'm not worried at all." (GMM)

F1 News Fernando Alonso McLaren

Replies (12)

mbmwe36

Posts: 533
Will the PU really matter if they retain the current lineup? Of course Gasly and Hartley have had less than ideal circumstances to show what they can do, but from fra I've seen, I can't say I'm impressed. If those were the alternatives, I'd probably kept Kvyat.
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- Nov 13 2017 - 15:24
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I was thinking the same thing. I realise it isnt fair to compare them with other drivers yet when they've been thrown into the mix like this, but they havent impressed. Maybe Marko were honest when he said they didnt have another Verstappen or Sainz among their juniors.
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  Nov 13 2017 - 20:25
- Kean
  
  Posts: 692
  I find it odd that they still stick with signing drivers from their young driver program when said program is rather void of drivers the likes of Ricciardo, Sainz, Verstappen, Vergne or Buemi. Can't they just sign new talent that is ready for F1? I was thinking Rosenqvist.
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  Nov 14 2017 - 22:51
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  They could, but that'd mean that their current efforts with their juniors would be wasted. I'd like to see Rosenqvist get a shot, but I dont see it happen uness he find enough dough to buy himself into the sport. :/
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  Nov 15 2017 - 06:33
Patentprutser

Posts: 392
Haha, Mc Laren should be worried about Renault!
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- Nov 13 2017 - 15:59
boudy

Posts: 1,168
What I noticed during the overtakes of HAM that the speed difference between him and all other Mercs was more than usual. I heard that HAM got an extra mode on his car. The overtakes looked easy and the resistance that other drivers could offer was low. Any other PU than merc is not the PU to get. There was a massive difference in performance and this performance gap is will not be overhauled by RENAULT/HONDA. Ferrari has an change since they are closer in their power output. Sorry Alonso ...
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- Nov 13 2017 - 16:03
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  That was a worrying thing indeed. That was like nothing else. I hope them not being able to burn oil next year will amend that. If not, Im expecting us to have Mercedes dominance up until the next set of regulations. The difference between Honda and Renault, or even between Renault, Honda and Ferrari, is negligible compared to what we saw there.
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  Nov 13 2017 - 19:02
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
You should always be worried when you switch supplier, the same goes for Renault. Im sure Alonso wont be as positive about the french when the next season is over.
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- Nov 13 2017 - 19:00
- RogerF1
  
  Posts: 501
  Here's a thought, could Merc have put out a 2018 ready upgrade engine for a trial run? Give it a shake down under race conditions. Nothing to lose for Hammy, lot of learning for e engineers to check out new components?
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  Nov 13 2017 - 21:43
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  They could've made final upgrades in preparation for 2018, but thats where the limit goes. Their unit is homologated for this season, there is a limit to how much more they are allowed to change it.
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  Nov 15 2017 - 06:35
TheUnsilientMajority

Posts: 2
Cyril is quoted as saying ... "We would never play dirty to win a place in the world championship."

All I'll say is, Singapore 2008 lol

news.bbc.co.uk/spo(...)ula_one/9265296.stm
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- Nov 13 2017 - 19:47
- Barron
  
  Posts: 625
  Yes but to be fair, it’s established that just 3 people were involved with that, not Renault the company. The one thing that bothers me in all of that (apart from the obvious) is that Alonso kept the win.
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  Nov 14 2017 - 14:14