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New Components for Toro Rosso in Bahrain

15:16, 04 Apr 2018

bySam Bytheway

Both Toro Rosso drivers will be using updated Honda equipment in Bahrain.

Following a disappointing performance in the Australian Grand Prix, with Pierre Gasly retiring and Brendon Hartley finishing last of all the finishers in 15th, Honda have modified the turbocharger and MGU-H components.

The components caused an issue with Gasly’s internal combustion engine in Australia which led to his retirement, so Toyoharu Tanabe, the technical director of Honda’s F1 project, hopes fitting the new components will improve the performance in Bahrain.

Tanabe said:

"Replacing components for the second race is obviously a difficult decision and not ideal, given that the number of power units and ancillary components is now limited to just three per season,

"However, we believe this is the right way forward and we will continue our development in order to ensure the same issue does not reoccur.

"Although Sakhir is a tough track for the power unit, we hope to move on from this difficult moment, as we focus on this race and those that follow."

Gasly also needs a new combustion engine due to the damage that occurred in Melbourne. This season F1 drivers are limited to just three combustion engine, MGU-H and turbo components and will incur a grid penalty for using any more than this.

Therefore, Gasly only has one more free change of those parts over the rest of the season.