The TF108 is getting closer to the front of the grid

What is your assessment of the first four practice sessions of the year?

« We are satisfied with the progress we have made with the TF108. It was clear from the first laps of the TF108 that it is a very different machine from the TF107: much more stable and providing a much more solid working base. Our drivers are much more confident and can attack more. We have found that the work on settings is much more straightforward and precise, and it is easier to make progress in this area. »

What did the team focus on during these tests?

« After checking all on-board systems during the warm-up lap, we focused on adjustments and development. We dedicated time to learning how to use the package and therefore worked on adapting the mechanical settings to the new aerodynamic concept. With the stability of the TF108 being much better, we had to review most of the research directions on settings that we had developed with the TF107. »

Are you satisfied with the basic setup of the TF108?

« Yes, I had said during the development of the new car that our main objective was to improve the stability and handling of the vehicle, and that’s exactly what we achieved. It clearly represents a step forward, and it still has great development potential ahead of it. It became evident from the first tests that we were in another league and that our performance was better. »

Which areas would you like to improve at the moment?

« I would say that we have found the stability we were chasing, and we can now focus on improving aerodynamic efficiency.

Does the gap between you and the fastest cars worry you?

« If we compare what is comparable, namely the lap times recorded during the same testing sessions and taking into account the estimated fuel quantities, we realize that currently, this gap reflects a performance gain of the TF108 compared to last year. Of course, there is still a gap, it is not satisfactory, and we are constantly trying to reduce it. But if we compare this year’s gaps with those of last year, we can say that we are closer to the front-running cars. »

Has the TF108 already shown its true potential?

« There is still a lot of performance to extract from this car before the first race. New parts will continuously be added to the car, but the biggest development will occur just before the Australian Grand Prix. All of this is part of a continuous development that will peak just before Melbourne. »

When will we see the Melbourne package appear?

« Many things will happen during the next 2 testing sessions in Barcelona, the last sessions before the Australian GP. The introduction of new parts will be spread over these two sessions, but we will not use the entire Melbourne package before the race weekend itself. »

Why did the team drive in Bahrain?

« There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the weather is warmer than what we find in Europe. It allows us to drive all day in the heat and assess the cooling systems, which is appropriate since we are operating a new system on the TF108. We wanted to run in the highest possible temperatures to focus on these specifics. Secondly, the Bahrain track is interesting in the sense that it offers a combination of fast curves and corners where traction is essential. »

According to Toyota-F1