Toro Rosso STR12

Carlos Sainz Jr 2017 Malaysia FP2 2

BrendonHartleyF1Debut

Toro Rosso STR12 was a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by Scuderia Toro Rosso to compete in the 2017 Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by Carlos Sainz Jr., Daniil Kvyat, and later in the season by Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley. It made its competitive debut at the 2017 Australian Grand Prix.

Development and Design

The STR12 was developed under the technical direction of James Key. It was the first car Toro Rosso produced to be powered by Renault engines since 2013, switching from the previous year's Ferrari power units. This change required a significant redesign of the car's rear end to accommodate the different size and cooling requirements of the Renault engine.

The chassis was designed with a focus on improving aerodynamic efficiency, featuring a more aggressive sidepod design and a tighter rear end, following the trend set by other teams in response to the regulation changes introduced in 2017. These changes aimed to increase downforce and grip, allowing for faster cornering speeds.

The livery of the STR12 was a notable departure from the team's previous designs, featuring a striking blue, silver, and red color scheme that stood out on the grid.

Racing History

Throughout the 2017 Formula One season, the STR12 showed competitive pace in the midfield, with Carlos Sainz Jr. securing the team's best finish of the year with a fourth place at the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix. However, the car's performance was inconsistent, and reliability issues, particularly with the power unit, hampered the team's efforts to consistently score points.

Daniil Kvyat's season with the team was marked by a series of on-track incidents and performance issues, leading to his replacement by Pierre Gasly for several races. Brendon Hartley also joined the team in the latter part of the season, replacing Sainz who moved to Renault.

Despite the challenges, the STR12 helped Toro Rosso finish 7th in the Constructors' Championship, contributing to the team's development and laying the groundwork for future cars.

Legacy

The STR12 is remembered for its distinctive livery and as a stepping stone in the careers of its drivers, particularly Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley, who made their Formula One debuts in the car. It also marked the end of an era for Toro Rosso's partnership with Renault, as the team would switch to using Honda power units from the 2018 season onwards.

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