Gasly: Toro Rosso’s Honda switch guarantees quality parts

Pierre Gasly says Toro Rosso’s switch from Renault to Honda power units from 2018 will ensure “there will be no compromise” for the team after its frustrating end to the season.

The French driver and team-mate Brendon Hartley were hit with consistent grid penalties due to exceeding engine changes permitted by the regulations, while Toro Rosso were involved in a late-season spat with Renault after speculation grew about unequal engine parts in order to boost the French manufacturers charge in the F1 World Constructors’ championship.

Toro Rosso will move to Honda as its engine supplier from 2018 with McLaren splitting from the Japanese manufacturer to take up Renault engines next season. Gasly sees becoming Honda’s sole team as an advantage with a guarantee of priority attention. Honda has endured a nightmare return to F1 with three years of unreliable and underpowered engines against its rivals despite entering the V6 hybrid engine era a year later to carve out more development time.

“Honda’s goal is to prove to everyone that they can make fast engines and we are the only one to have their engines so we’re sure they’ll give everything they can to give us the best treatment and there will be no compromise,” Gasly said. “I think this is really positive and they’ll have an extra three or four months to improve before the beginning of the year.

“At the moment they are definitely improving when you look at the McLarens they are much better now than six months ago so if they manage to keep this momentum I think it will be a good move and surprise everyone in a nice way. Let’s hope it can happen.”

Gasly is confirmed as part of the Toro Rosso driver line-up alongside Hartley for the 2018 F1 season after impressing in the final rounds of this season as replacement for Daniil Kvyat and latterly Carlos Sainz Jr. Next season will mark Gasly’s maiden full F1 season with his debut using the Honda power units expected during pre-season testing at Circuit de Catalunya.