Toro Rosso tweaks suspension after wheel rim failures
Toro Rosso has made a number of modifications to its car – including its rear suspension – in a bid to eradicate the wheel rim failures that have hit its running in recent grands prix.
Photo by: XPB Images
Daniil Kvyat and Carlos Sainz were confined to the garage for much of second practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after it suffered two left rear failures in the practice sessions.
The latest incidents come after a spate of similiar incidents that began at the United States Grand Prix last month.
The team has not yet got a conclusive answer as to why it has suddenly began to suffer the problems, but is hoping that tweaks to its car can help it complete this weekend without further issue.
However, it is understood the team is unsure if the rim failures are being caused by the components themselves, or because the rims are being snagged on suspension or another part of the wheel set-up.
Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost confirmed, however, that both its drivers would be back in action in Saturday’s final free practice session.
Kvyat, who suffered the Abu Dhabi failures in first and second free practice, admitted on Friday night that a complete answer to the situation would not be easy to find.
“I think it’s going to take a long time. We just need to understand,” he said. “I’m confident the guys will learn everything. It’s going to be a longer evening that usual, but of course these things require investigations.
“We don’t want these things to happen any more. It’s cost us a full Friday. I didn’t do anything today. We’ll do our best to be in the correct window, just go out and hope the issue will be fixed.
"There’s nothing I can do from my side. I’m fully in the hands of the team at this stage.”
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