Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has confirmed that he would like the team switch to Renault power for 2014.
Like several other teams, STR does not yet have a contract for the first year of the new turbo era.
Tost said that sharing the same powerplant as sister team Red Bull Racing would have obvious benefits in the build-up to 2014 – which could of course include using an RBR gearbox along with other systems.
“It has not been decided yet,” he said. “We are in negotiation with Renault, and then we will see. No contract is signed so far.
“We need to know as soon as possible, because as you know the earlier [you sign] with partners the easier it is to go into detail and sort out all the open questions, because next year’s drivetrain package is very complicated.
“Not so much from the engine side, but much more from the turbo, because of the heat, from the air system, and then as well from the gearbox. This complete package has to become one unit, and you need to know as soon as possible who are our partners.”
Asked by this blog if Ferrari had indicated that it didn’t have the capacity to supply STR, he said: “No Ferrari didn’t say that they are not able to supply more teams. It’s our target to run the same engine as Red Bull Racing is using, to use the synergies which are possible from the relation side. That’s the reason why.”
Tost stressed how complicated the new package will be: “As we look into the 2014 regulations the more we know about this, the more question marks are coming up, This will be a really difficult issue from the technical side as well as from the economical side. It’s a great challenge for all of us.”
Adam Cooper F1 
It’s a wise time to consider a switch of supplier with a major engine change (and the consequent chassis modifications) in the future.
Dude, why didn’t they just limit V10 engines instead of messing around with V8s and then write off I don’t know how many tens of millions or hundreds of millions $$$ spent on the entire V8 saga… just to top it all off with insanely expensive “green” V6? Not complaining about the sound or anything like that – bring on fresh V6 sound, I don’t mind as long as it doesn’t eliminate teams on the grid; V10 engines were not so outdated technology wise, as people tried to present them.
All this when budgets are hard to find, unless you opt for a bunch of well-funded rich kids (with some value, OK, I admit it).
And a nice move from STR – you’re never going to beat Ferrari with Ferrari engine at the back, breach of rules.