Toro Rosso

Now in its fifth season, the former Minardi team achieved its best result in the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Sebastian Vettel powered his STR 3 from pole to chequered flag to register the Faenza-based outfit’s first victory. The ‘junior team’ had eclipsed Red Bull in the constructors’ standing that season.

The expectations that built with the team did not bear fruit in 2009. A 19-year-old Spaniard, Jaime Alguersuari, had replaced the underperforming Sebastian Bourdais mid-season. But despite introducing major upgrades in the latter half of 2009, the team finished last in the standings.
Franz Tost has been the team principal since former McLaren and Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger stepped down from the post at the end of 2008. Unlike ‘big brother’ Red Bull that runs on Renault engines, the sister team has been running on Ferrari power.

With the introduction of new teams and with more scoring opportunities available, Toro Rosso, translated from Italian as ‘Red Bull’, will certainly hope not to finish dead last in the championship this time around. Sebastien Buemi is taking the lead as the team goes all out hoping to benefit from the new points system in 2010.