F1: Toro Rosso to update chassis to offset engine

Toro Rosso will continue improving its 2016 STR11 chassis in a bid to overcome the deficiencies of its year-old Ferrari Formula 1 engine.

Carlos Sainz Jr. admitted after German Grand Prix qualifying the 2015 Ferrari power unit was now a handicap. That was always anticipated as the other 10 teams have 2016 systems and are receiving updates.

Hockenheim highlighted Toro Rosso's problems, with the team failing to score a point for the first time this season when both cars have finished, as Sainz was 14th and teammate Daniil Kvyat 15th.

"It was clear for us from the very beginning we would lose performance throughout the season because the other engine manufacturers would improve their performance," said team principal Franz Tost. "What we now have to do is to make developments on the chassis side, and then it depends on how much the other manufactures improve the power unit. In this way we are able to balance that with the improvement of the chassis."

Toro Rosso ran a new aero package at Hockenheim and Tost feels more performance can be found in this after the summer break.

"The upgrade worked, and although I was not happy with the result [in Germany], it was nothing to do with the upgrade," added Tost. "Everything in the data that we can see was a very high correlation, and we can see that it works. The rest we will see in the second half of the season.

"Of course, we are firmly concentrating on next year's car, but some small improvements will come."

With McLaren just three points behind in the constructors' championship, Toro Rosso is at risk of slipping to seventh in the standings.

"That's why I don't think there will be many happy faces now at Toro Rosso," said Sainz. "Obviously there is not going to be a lot of development on the car, and what we saw in Germany could be the trend for the second half of the season."

Sainz recognizes Toro Rosso's best hope for a result is at tracks where high downforce is required, such as Singapore.

"McLaren is now with us," he added. "The more efficient downforce tracks, like Spa or Monza, they are a bit ahead, and maybe the pure downforce tracks like Singapore we can be ahead because we still have the package."

Tost is still sure Toro Rosso's chassis is among the best three on the grid and that this bodes well for 2017 when it returns to Renault power. The team will also increase its collaboration with Red Bull Technologies.

"I'm optimistic next year's car will be as competitive as this year's," Tost said. "We have a very good chassis and for me, the Toro Rosso is for sure within the first three chassis.

"We are working together very closely with Red Bull Technologies for the complete gearbox, internals, hydraulics and parts where we are allowed to share the IP rights."

Originally on Autosport.com