Saturday – Toro Rosso dreamed it, Toro Rosso did it!

What a day for the little Scuderia! The Italian team has just delivered one of its best performances since its debut in F1.

The third free practice session suggested the best as Bourdais climbed to the third step of the podium while Vettel was 6th.

To crown this day, the two Sébastiens stepped up a gear since, for the first time, they both reached Q3. The 6th and 10th fastest times in qualifying give them a strong chance of earning points.

Sebastian Vettel – 6th and 6th:

« My best result and I can tell you that I am happy. It was a fantastic day for us. We made some setup changes to the car overnight, and they proved positive. The team worked tirelessly to make the most of the data. »

« We didn’t expect to do this well here, but it’s a good thing to have both cars in Q3. My last fast lap could have been a bit better, but I made a small mistake with a brake lock-up. Now, we must keep our feet on the ground because there are a lot of laps waiting for us tomorrow. I’m looking forward to this race because I think we have a real chance to score points. »

Sébastien Bourdais – 3rd and 10th:

« This qualifying session isn’t bad… I am still concerned about this grip issue with my tires. But I am happy that overall things are improving and with this spot in Q3 for the first time in my F1 career. »

« What we have seen on this new track is that some teams are working in the right direction and others are not. Our team has done a good job. Now, it’s up to me to make the most of my car in the race. I hope to be able to fight for points. »

Giorgio Ascanelli – Technical Director:

« This is our best performance with the presence of our two drivers in Q3. The fact that it’s a new track, this lack of experience that is usually criticized for Bourdais and Vettel, is not a factor on this circuit. Here, everyone is discovering it. There’s a way to end this weekend even happier than we currently are. »