Sainz unconcerned by filming day reliability

Carlos Sainz insists he is unconcerned by reliability issues during a Toro Rosso filming day with the STR12 last week.

The team's 2017 car first ran during a filming day at the Fiorano circuit in Italy on Thursday, but encountered problems with the Renault power unit. Toro Rosso was still happy with the footage it gathered despite the gremlins, and Sainz says he is not worried after Renault's works team completed more mileage on Saturday in Barcelona.

"I don't think we can be concerned by it from a filming day especially because on those days you do filming and photos and we manage to do all the filming and pictures," Sainz said. "At least we accomplished our objectives and tomorrow we can run with no issues and cover kilometers.

"I know it sounds very typical but for the first week of testing I will be looking at the lap counts rather than the lap times themselves. The second test probably also but a bit more to the stopwatch. The first week we need to be patient, do lots of laps and understand the new regulations."

With the STR12 sharing a number of similarities with the new Mercedes car – notably with the front suspension and nose concept – Sainz takes confidence from Toro Rosso's aerodynamic approach.

"I think it is too early to say – we first need to try it and compare it to others and see the stopwatch a bit, more in the second week of testing, but at least the car looks similar to the one which had been winning all the races so it gives me confidence and a good feeling," he said. "I think Toro Rosso has shown in recent years if it knows how to something it is aerodynamics, so hopefully we'll use this change of regulations for our benefit and we can profit from it.

"I think Toro Rosso can be confident. Over the past three years Toro Rosso has shown it can do good aerodynamics and with all the new regulations coming up I have confidence in the team we can create a good base – probably not win the championship, I am not asking for that, but I want a weapon that allows us to get into the top 10. That is what I expect and hope for.

"This year I know there are going to be big developments and I can really hope we can hold on to it, as we were not able to last year with the engine compromise."

Sainz will be behind the wheel for Toro Rosso on the opening day of testing in Barcelona on Monday.