Sainz admits STR problems not all Renault's fault
Carlos Sainz says not all of Toro Rosso's problems are related to the Renault engine, as the Spaniard believes the team also needs to sort out some issues itself.
The Faenza-based squad endured a difficult first test last week, the new Renault power unit suffering reliability problems that limited the team's running on most days.
The situation has improved vastly this week, however, and both Sainz and teammate Daniil Kvyat have had more productive days, the Spaniard covering 92 laps on Wednesday.
Although Sainz, who last week said Renault's issues were to be expected given the all-new power unit, admitted Toro Rosso also needs to iron out problems.
"I think both Renault and us understand [the engine]," said Sainz. "It's just that we have some problems, but the truth is that this week most of them have been solved, but some of them are still there and delay us a bit.
"But on Toro Rosso's side we are also having some problems. It's not all Renault's fault.
"The positive thing is that we are doing a lot more laps than in the previous test so today we could get into a rhythm a bit," he added.
The Toro Rosso driver said he was much happier than last week, although he conceded the team still needed to make up for the time lost earlier.
"We've managed to cover nearly 100 laps so it's a good step forward compared to last week. Still some little problems here and there going on, that's why we're a couple of times sitting out in the box, waiting, but, yeah, a lot better at least.
"We finally could get some rhythm and test some things. We are happier, but we know we are still a small step behind in terms of our working programme because of what we lost last week."
Sainz, whose team set the goal of finishing fifth in the championship this year, admitted it was impossible to tell where Toro Rosso stands in the pecking order right now.
"I don't know, because if we look at the laptimes both Renault and Force India, even Williams, appear to be very quick," he said. "We are all very close.
"I don't think much has changed with the top three teams and they are in a different league compared to the rest. We'll try to keep on pushing and our goal is to be fifth and to be fifth we have to beat one of those I mentioned."
Additional reporting by Jacobo Vega
Share Or Save This Story
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
Will the "big swing" Williams F1 car upgrade be a hit or a miss?
Carlos Sainz backs bold approach for Williams junior Will Green's racing future
Sainz interview: “I always believed in McLaren… but then Ferrari called”
Why "dangerous" Hamilton-Lawson incident in Azerbaijan GP practice hasn't led to change
Lewis Hamilton reprimanded by F1 stewards after Azerbaijan GP practice incident
How Arvid Lindblad has shown that he's found his feet in F1
MotoGP 2027 calendar revealed with Buenos Aires and Adelaide joining the schedule
Alpine explains decision to drop Antonio Felix da Costa, Fred Makowiecki from Fuji WEC line-up
F1 Azerbaijan GP: Max Verstappen leads George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in final practice
F1 urged to rethink sprint points system as calendar expands in 2027
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
What we learned from Thursday practice at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP
A look at McLaren and Audi's Baku F1 updates
Fernando Alonso’s idea to ‘save’ F1 before the V8 return – and how realistic it is
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments