F1 News

Summer Break Grades: How have Toro Rosso done so far?

Summer Break Grades: How have Toro Rosso done so far?

16-08-2019 10:06
Author profile picture

Bobby Vincent

Toro Rosso are fifth in the constructors' standings so far after a really impressive start to the season. It's all change at the Red Bull sister team now, though, meaning it will be a very interesting second half of the season for the squad.

Toro Rosso - 8/10

After finishing ninth-place in 2018, you would've been forgiven if you'd rubbed your eyes a tad when seeing they are now in P5 in the constructors' standings, but they really are.

That is of course largely down to the podium finish that Daniil Kvyat scored in Germany in the wet conditions at Hockenheim that caused a truly insane race. That was definitely its best race of the season, with Alex Albon also finishing in P6.

The team have benefitted from a much stronger package from Honda this season now that they have Red Bull to contend with and the Toro Rosso side have definitely reaped the rewards from the upgrades.

Alex Albon - 7/10

Albon has really impressed in his rookie Formula 1 season, so much so that he has been called upon by Red Bull to replace Pierre Gasly for the next race in Belgium until the end of the season.

The British-born Thai driver will be Max Verstappen's partner until the end of the season at least and then Red Bull will assess the situation and Albon's performances.

A career-high P6 in Germany must be the highlight of Albon's season, but it was also a race when the former Toro Rosso driver also had a great chance of finishing on the podium but it was his team-mate who was celebrating P3.

Daniil Kvyat - 8/10

Many were questionning the call to bring Kvyat back to the Red Bull programme, but the Torpedo has been ever so impressive this season. Showing a level of maturity we never knew he had, the Russian driver has scored 27 points for the Honda-powered team.

Scoring more than Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, largely down to the 15 points he collected from his P3 at the Hockenheimring, the experienced driver may feel quite harshly done by not to be called about the Red Bull seat.

It will be very interesting to see how Kvyat gets on with Gasly as his team-mate, with logic suggesting that the Frenchman should give the Russian a real go for his money in the second half of the season.