RAISING BULL
The similarities between the new Mercedes and Toro Rosso are not limited to the nose, since the STR12 also features a system to raise the front wishbone.
A bent tie elevates the mounting point (see yellow arrow). While the raised wishbone frees up some space for the airflow, it also enhances the way the suspension works and improves tyre usage, which remains a crucial performance factor in 2017.
Although the shared DNA with Mercedes’ latest war horse is flattering for Toro Rosso, Key admits to mixed feeling about the comparison.
“On the one hand we were sort of pleased to see someone else has done a similar thing, but on the other we were disappointed that we weren't the only team to think of something,” he said.
“I looked at the Mercedes and thought 'Oh, OK, they've got our front suspension! Most people will say we've got the Mercedes front suspension, but... The nose is similar, the front of the side pods are similar, even the bodywork of the sidepods are similar. [It's a] complete coincidence... It's clear we followed a similar path. I just hope the engines are similar!”
