Toro Rosso change back to older spec Honda engine

  • Published on 29 Sep 2018 12:25
  • comments 4
  • By: Fergal Walsh

After trialling Honda's upgraded power unit during Friday practice in Sochi, Toro Rosso has opted to return to the older specification. Both Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley fitted the new engine to the car prior to the weekend, with Honda reporting an "encouraging" boost.

Gasly managed to finish in eighth place after the second practice session on Friday. However, the Red Bull junior squad has now decided to revert back to the previous engine specification. Honda will fit the new engine in again next weekend for its home race in Japan.

"Having studied all available power unit data after FP2, we realised that, although the performance was encouraging, there is still some work to do in some areas such as calibration and matching the power unit to the chassis,” said Honda chief Toyoharu Tanabe.

"So we have decided to revert to the older specification power unit on both cars for the rest of the weekend. We believe we can complete the work before the Japanese Grand Prix, so that we can run the new specification power units on both cars from then on.”

Replies (4)

Login to reply
  • A bit of a letdown, but it is what it is. And it makes sense to snatch the penalties for this race and use the older allocations at the same time, since it now is a lost race anyway, so I hope Honda will pull through in Japan.

    • + 0
    • Sep 29 2018 - 16:39
    • I wonder if Renault is pulling a similar strat with their spec C.

      • + 0
      • Sep 29 2018 - 16:44
  • Great job Honda once again.

    • + 0
    • Sep 29 2018 - 19:03
    • Innit what test sessions are for though? Getting data on stuff, an retreating for a while if it needs more work? They are kinda still ahead of schedule.

      • + 0
      • Sep 30 2018 - 08:04

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Alpha Tauri
  • Points 399
  • Podiums 4
  • Grand Prix 149
  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Feb 7 1996 (28)
  • Place of b. Rouen, FR
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.77 m
Show full profile

Team profile

  • comments 128,696 comments on Honda
  • star 9 members have this team as their favourite
  • vote Tweets about Honda
Show full profile
show sidebar