Toro Rosso: 2020 calendar may cause internal team rotations

  • Published on 16 Feb 2019 16:16
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Toro Rosso team manager Graham Watson believes that Formula 1 teams could start to adopt a rotation policy in 2020 in response to the expanding calendar.

The number of races on the 2020 schedule has not yet been confirmed, but 5 tracks are out of contract after the 2019 season. However, Vietnam will join the calendar, while F1 owners Liberty Media is still working on securing a race around the streets of Miami.

2019's calendar will feature 21 races, matching the record set in 2016. Last year's campaign also featured 21 events, with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stating that the calendar was already at "saturation point".

Teams use the same personnel race to race but Watson believes that things will have to change if the number of races increases further.

“Honestly, I think we’re almost there,” he said. “We’ve already started a little bit of a rotation with most of the departments now to help sustain it.

“However, when it comes to the race mechanics, it’s a little bit trickier. Next year, 2020, we’re scheduled to have a new race in Vietnam.

“If that pushes the race total to 22, then I think we will seriously have to reconsider how we operate in terms of personnel at the track. Part of my job is to keep motivation high, I try to give the guys as much time off as possible, but as the calendar is so busy it’s not an easy task.”

Watson added that 50% of Honda's staff that worked at Toro Rosso in 2018 will move to Red Bull this year to ensure both teams receive equal treatment in the engine department.

"Basically, we keep 50% of the Honda personnel who worked with us in 2018 and Red Bull gets the other 50%,” he said “So both teams get half the 2018 guys and half new Honda personnel. I think that’s the best and fairest approach.

“Given we have new people on board, we need to do our best to integrate them within the team and find the best practices to work efficiently with each other. If the past has taught us anything, this should be a simple process and by the end of the first test everyone will be familiar with one another.”

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Interesting. I saw something either last year or the year before that said that some of the teams were already doing rotation with two sets of gear. Everything but the cars and some essential equipment that has to be the same from race to race.

    • + 0
    • Feb 16 2019 - 21:33
  • DRS-zone

    Posts: 315

    I’m not really surprised to be honest but it’s bad for their image. Specially with their new title sponsor

    • + 0
    • Feb 17 2019 - 09:29

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 -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Nov 16 1973 (51)
  • Place of b. Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, GB
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 0 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