Toro Rosso unveil new 2013 car and set sixth-place target

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments11

The new Toro Rosso car

Toro Rosso have launched their new car with the ambitious target of moving up to sixth place in the constructors' championship this year.

Red Bull's junior team were ninth in 2012, occupying a no-man's-land between the midfield and the three backmarker teams.

Team boss Franz Tost said: "The team has worked with a very high level of effort to come up with a great car and meet the high level of expectations."

The team retain drivers Australian Daniel Ricciardo and France's Jean-Eric Vergne.

Tost said of the two latest Red Bull protégés to make it into Formula 1: "Both drivers did a really good job last year, and I'm convinced if we supply them with a good car they'll come up with surprise results."

They are hoping to impress sufficiently to be considered as a partner for triple world champion Sebastian Vettel at the senior team in 2014, if Red Bull decide not to continue with Mark Webber or the Australian chooses to move on.

The car is the first to be produced under the new technical leadership of Englishman James Key, formerly of Sauber, for whom last year he produced one of the best cars of the year.

The Toro Rosso is Backmarkers Caterham and Marussia will take the wraps off their cars ahead of the start of pre-season testing in Jerez on Tuesday morning.

The Williams will be the final car to break cover, at the second test in Barcelona in two weeks' time. They are attending this week's first test but with a 2012 car fitted with 2013 development parts.

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11 comments

  • Comment posted by U15489716, at 19:37 4 Feb 2013

    Good looking car. Lets just hope they do not move out of the way for Red Bull.

  • Comment posted by mr dancing gecko, at 00:08 5 Feb 2013

    Rather short article compared to the other launches. As a consequence Gary's informed input is much less than I'd like to see. Wouldn't want him to have written more than AB now would we.

    Gary has probably been the best signing the Beeb has made for any sport. Informative and educational in equal measure. I hope the new line-up means he will be given a more prominent role this year as a result.

  • Comment posted by UnderDefeat, at 10:04 5 Feb 2013

    Let's be honest, Toro Rosso's objective is to improve performance so it can evaluate drivers for Red Bull. In that respect, they'll always struggle as they can never bring in experienced drivers to give better feedback.

    If there's no Red Bull seat available, they get cast aside for the next lot. Koba, Glock, Heikki have all proved more deserving of a seat than anyone non-Vettel from Toro Rosso.

  • Comment posted by yellowbelly, at 07:59 5 Feb 2013

    Yes, yes, this is all very well, but it doesn't answer the most important question: who is better....... Lewis or Jenson?

  • Comment posted by Popolopolos, at 00:22 5 Feb 2013

    5. janner_

    The noses are the same height as last year and thus perfectly safe. They only look higher because of the FIA modesty plates.

  • Comment posted by U15502906, at 23:46 4 Feb 2013

    I can't stand this team. I done. Like anything that they stand for.

    6th place? Don't make me laugh. I'd love to see Caterham and Marussia overtake them.

  • Comment posted by Mucktada Al Irish, at 20:44 4 Feb 2013

    Hey look, It's the Red Bull moving chicanes...

  • Comment posted by BrightLampShade - Not606 Formula 1, at 20:04 4 Feb 2013

    Looks like a neat package, hopefully it can give something for its drivers to impress with. They must know that unless they stand out this season they're out?
    Such is the Red Bull set-up.

  • Comment posted by Sportsmad19, at 19:54 4 Feb 2013

    James Key will undoubtedly be a good addition and I think the Toro Rosso will be challenging for more points positions than they did last season. Part of the reason 2012 was disappointing though was having two really inexperienced drivers, with one being a rookie. Both have now had at least a season in F1 and should be closer to their rivals. They don't want to be racing the Caterhams in 2013.

  • Comment posted by U14976425, at 22:48 4 Feb 2013

    Pretty looking car, rear and side rear look tidy.

    Wouldn't want to be t-boned in the side with these high noses though.

    Nor would I wish to be a front jackmen if it overshoots the pits...

  • Comment posted by Juggernaut, at 09:25 5 Feb 2013

    It's not so much the height of the nose on these new regulation cars, it's the knife edge profiles being created to channel air-flow to the floor etc. It seems a bit strange to change to a lower nose (and ugly step) and then allow for a sharp profile for better aero.

    Can we expect to see a change in regs again, to have a standard radius/profile for the nose cone?

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