Toro Rosso STR14 launch hints at closer wheel-to-wheel racing for 2019

Scuderia Toro Rosso became the second team, following Haas, to unveil its 2019 challenger on Monday as fans and the media got a clearer insight as to how the new aerodynamic regulations may play out.

Motorsport Tech’s in-depth analysis of the Haas VF19 pointed at how the rules may make for closer racing this season with wing changes particularly aimed at reducing the ‘outwash’ effect and creating a ‘narrower wake’ to aid overtaking.

In releasing their launch images, Toro Rosso has given us a closer insight into how this may work, excellently demonstrated here by Craig Scarborough.

I love the way the sidepod top surface rolls over to direct airflow under the Coke bottle shape, very Newey-esque , pushing more air pressure over the diffuser pic.twitter.com/iTU61fqynH

— Craig Scarborough (@ScarbsTech) February 11, 2019

Lower mounted front suspension (orange) old suspension was outrigged above the wheel rim (yellow) pic.twitter.com/NEELdNKrqD

— Craig Scarborough (@ScarbsTech) February 11, 2019

The color scheme of the STR14 remains the same as for 2017 and 2018, sticking with its eye-catching blue, silver and red livery.

Take a closer look at our 2019 challenger 👀 #STR14 pic.twitter.com/U6n8c2bNNv

— Toro Rosso (@ToroRosso) February 11, 2019

“The aim is to always improve in order to compete at the highest possible level and this winter we have worked intensively to bring a few organizational changes, which we hope will help smooth a few issues we experienced in the past,” commented Franz Tost, Toro Rosso team principal.

“We have analyzed all the internal procedures in order to optimize our strengths and minimize our weaknesses.”

Nicely sculpted nose
1 S-duct inlet
2 S-duct outlet
3 Hump over front heave damper
4 sculpted undernose around turning vanes pic.twitter.com/2oIbGEoBNF

— Craig Scarborough (@ScarbsTech) February 11, 2019

“Compared to other teams, Toro Rosso count on a smaller number of people, but the synergies with Red Bull Technology for the non-listed parts, now that Red Bull will also be equipped with the Honda engine, will leave more time for our technical working groups to focus more on the details,” added Tost.

“Attention to detail makes the difference and this translates to more performance. We have very good technical people to follow the in-house design, and the reliability of last year’s synergy project parts will put us in a more favorable situation to develop quicker during the season.”