Saturday Recap – An Up and Down Day for Toro Rosso

Toro Rosso showed today that making something new out of something old was indeed possible. The so-called B team of Red Bull demonstrated all its capabilities in using the 2007 single-seater, the STR02, in the best possible way.

Since the 2008 version wasn’t ready before at least the Turkish Grand Prix, it was necessary to optimize the performance of this single-seater, which ultimately became a competitor to Renault and other teams like Williams or Toyota.

The team’s result, despite Vettel’s good 10th qualifying time, remains very mixed since the Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais, who was participating in his first qualifiers today, is only 18th and wasn’t able to join Q2.

Sebastian Vettel – 8th and 9th (Qualified 10th):

« From a certain point of view, it was a very good qualifying session. I participated in Q2 with a very good pace and did a good lap to make it to Q3. Unfortunately, a technical problem at the end of my lap prevented me from starting the third part of qualifying. So I want to make up for it tomorrow by pushing to the maximum. »

Sébastien Bourdais – 18th and 17th (Qualified 18th):

The car has really performed well since the issues in the free practice session this morning where I had some problems. I really felt that I could go fast and I felt competitive in Q1 for the first time!

« I was able to do a very good lap at the end of Q1, but unfortunately in the second sector I went a bit too wide at one point, ruining the good times from the first sectors, then a yellow flag doomed me in Q1. »

Giorgio Ascanelli – Technical Director:

« Vettel did a fantastic job to reach Q3 even though he couldn’t take part due to that mechanical problem… On his side, Bourdais also did a good job. He could have made it into Q2 for his first F1 qualifying, but his attempt was ruined by a yellow flag.