Friday: A good starting point for Toro Rosso at Suzuka
Max Verstappen drove with Toro Rosso and enjoyed the experience. Daniil Kvyat and Jean-Eric Vergne drove to prepare for the F1 GP qualifying and race and are satisfied with the performance of the STR9 even though there are still some things to improve.
Daniil Kvyat (no.26) – 10th and 9th
The Russian driver is thrilled to have finally driven on the legendary Japanese circuit, but not everything was easy with his Toro Rosso that he still needs to improve: « It was a difficult day, but I enjoyed finally driving here in Suzuka and was able to learn the track well too. I struggled a bit with the car’s balance today, so there’s still work to do on our end tonight. But I’m confident that we can improve the car for tomorrow and hopefully make the most of it for Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race. »
Jean-Eric Vergne (No. 25) – 11th [FP2]
The Frenchman gave his seat to Verstappen during FP1 which put him at a disadvantage, but he remains optimistic for the rest of the Japanese weekend: « Clearly it was a difficult Friday, with little running. It didn’t help not running during FP1, but I must say that Max did a good job with the car this morning. This afternoon, I had a few issues which didn’t allow me to run as much as I would have liked. We need to investigate and understand these problems to find a good solution. On the positive side, we have a good base to work from, so I’m confident we can have a better car for tomorrow. »
Max Verstappen – 12th [FP1]
The Dutchman was delighted to have been able to drive with Toro Rosso during FP1 at Suzuka and achieved his goal of gaining experience for next year: « Today, for me, it was mainly about gaining experience in the car, especially on a tough circuit like Suzuka. I was impressed by the engine’s power. The car is bigger than what I’m used to in Formula 3, and there are many more things to think about when driving, so I had to use a few laps to get comfortable with such a different car. I didn’t take any risks and drove within my limits throughout the session, covering as many kilometers as possible. »
He made sure to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for this opportunity and is eager to return to the cockpit of the STR9 before the end of the year: « I must thank Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso for giving me the opportunity to be in the car this year already on Fridays to be well prepared for next year. I feel comfortable with the team and I enjoy working with them. I also hope to drive in Austin, Sao Paulo, and Abu Dhabi. Now that I know what it’s like to drive a Formula 1 car, I can’t wait to experience it again. »
