Scuderia Toro Rosso 2009-present - The Reject Years

[jackanderton]

A quick look at the stats indicates that this team last finished in 6th place or higher in the 2008 Brazilian GP (courtesy of Sebastien Vettel).

78 grand prix, no finishes inside the top 6. Rather rejectful.

It's easy to point the fingers at the drivers, but it is their own policy of promoting young drivers rather than known quantities, and when you look at the results they've all managed very similar. Jaime Alguersuari seemed to be developing well with 5 top 8 finishes in his 2nd full season, before they took the step of ditching him, for again, diminishing returns.

One argument is that the team only achieve the results they have the funding to, but are they doing enough, do they have the pride, the right mindset to be a successful quasi-independent team?

Then you have to consider the obvious help they provide to the sister team Red Bull (with the exception of early season racing and not checking their mirrors). Is there a real point to this makeweight team- if there isn't, are the management, the staff and the drivers doing the best they possibly can?

They seem to be improving a little bit this year- any chance of a 5th, 6th place to drag them back out of rejectdom?

[CoopsII]

Whatever their 'bottom line is' be it actual dollars, PR or driver development you'd have to assume they're hitting it otherwise Matersti, Matierst, Matress, the boss would've pulled the plug by now. Unless the whole thing is a tax write-off.

[WeirdKerr]

Imagine how dominant Redbull would be with the extra budget that Torro Rosso use up....

[DOSBoot]

Imagine how dominant Redbull would be with the extra budget that Torro Rosso use up....

AHHHH!!! Don't even let me think about it!

[mario]

Whatever their 'bottom line is' be it actual dollars, PR or driver development you'd have to assume they're hitting it otherwise Matersti, Matierst, Matress, the boss would've pulled the plug by now. Unless the whole thing is a tax write-off.

There is also the advantage that Toro Rosso, as a compliant partner to Red Bull, provide them with additional leverage and voting rights in negotiations - indeed, I believe that Red Bull has used that to their advantage at times in delaying some rule changes.

Imagine how dominant Redbull would be with the extra budget that Torro Rosso use up....

I might be mistaken, but I think that Toro Rosso, since it has a fairly modest budget and outsources most of its work to Red Bull Technology (which does, within certain restrictions, allow Red Bull to share resources with its junior team and partially get around the customer car regulations), wouldn't make a huge difference to Red Bull itself.

[Alextrax52]

Well for the first time in 82 races a Toro Rosso finishes inside the Top 6. JEV is a hero and he's showed that if he can qualify as well as he can race then results like this happen

[Onxy Wrecked]

Well for the first time in 82 races a Toro Rosso finishes inside the Top 6. JEV is a hero and he's showed that if he can qualify as well as he can race then results like this happen

It means JEV might be driving for a new team come next season.

[David AGS]

Also, Renault engines next season, so designs could be similar (but different!) even more.

It must be said that, James Key has done a great job (or largely responsible). They have been competitive at most tracks this season, and Key in a similar position turned Sauber into a lower end team to a team fighting for points and more on a regular basis.

It also must be said, is Key the um.. Key to success????

[CoopsII]

It also must be said, is Key the um.. Key to success????

Only if he can unlock their potential.

[UncreativeUsername37]

It also must be said, is Key the um.. Key to success????

Only if he can unlock their potential.

...

[dr-baker]

It also must be said, is Key the um.. Key to success????

Only if he can unlock their potential.

Let's hope he doesn't bolt for the door then...

[Boomstick]

It also must be said, is Key the um.. Key to success????

Only if he can unlock their potential.

Let's hope he doesn't bolt for the door then...

...don't worry he'll Pic his way through...

[UncreativeUsername37]

Only if he can unlock their potential.

Let's hope he doesn't bolt for the door then...

...don't worry he'll Pic his way through...

He'll be fine, I couldn't be Surer.

[Yannick]

He'll be fine, I couldn't be Surer.

Neither can I.

But Vergne's P6 did surprise me.

[tommykl]

Let's hope he doesn't bolt for the door then...

...don't worry he'll Pic his way through...

He'll be fine, I couldn't be Surer.

These puns are getting me very Crossley.

I apologize for that.

[CoopsII]

Perhaps we should move this into a new thread entitled Punderbox?

[FullMetalJack]

Perhaps we should move this into a new thread entitled Punderbox?

Sounds like a Rial good idea

[Faustus]

Whatever their 'bottom line is' be it actual dollars, PR or driver development you'd have to assume they're hitting it otherwise Matersti, Matierst, Matress, the boss would've pulled the plug by now. Unless the whole thing is a tax write-off.

I'm just glad Red Bull is still pouring money into another team with nothing to show for it. Losing Minardi at the end of 2005 would've been a big blow to the sport and losing Toro Rosso now would be a blow as well, albeit on a different scale.