06/03/2006
NEWS STORY
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A rather bizarre joint press release from Red Bull and Toro Rosso, issued at the weekend, reveals that neither team will be having a launch - as such - this week.
Instead; "drivers and personnel from both teams will be available to answer questions from the media in the paddock at the Sakhir circuit on Thursday", while the liveries for both teams will be unveiled on Thursday evening, the eve of the first official practice session of the 2006 Formula One world Championship season.
"No interviews will be during this event," states the press release.
Scott Speed has already warned that the Toro Rosso livery will be "different".
However, this is not something that can be said about the car, for to all intents and purposes it is the Red Bull RBR1 with a few bits added on.
Thus far, the legality of the Scuderia Toro Rosso package has focussed on the engine, with the Italian-based team being the only outfit on the 2006 grid running a V10 powerplant. This, of course, goes back to an agreement reached in 2005, when, as Minardi, the team simply didn't have the finance to switch to a V8 engine.
With the agreement of its rivals, Minardi was given special dispensation to run with the Cosworth V10 this season, providing that the FIA can ensure that the playing field is levelled, and that the unit doesn't enjoy a power advantage over its V8 rivals.
This of course came before the Italian team was bought by Red Bull, a company which has no such financial problems.
Although the FIA believes that it has come up with technical restrictions which will restore the status-quo, it is ready to act should the Toro Rosso appear to have an advantage.
Pre-season, several teams, most notably Toyota and Midland have expressed their unease, and already some are predicting that we could see teams lodge protests should the Toro Rosso appear to punch above its weight.
However, little has been said of the STR1 chassis, other than Max Mosley recently telling journalists that it was perfectly legal.
The fact is however, that the car is a 'tarted-up' RBR1, and any protests that are lodged in the coming weeks will have more to do with its parentage than the legality of the powerplant in the back.
The STR1 is the RBR1 and no amount of crazy hype or zany liveries will alter the fact.