Honda’s confidence higher working with Toro Rosso - Key 

Formula 1 engine supplier Honda’s confidence has grown higher during its new relationship with Toro Rosso, according to the team’s technical director James Key. 

The Japanese power unit manufacturer is currently in the process of rebuilding its reputation in the sport with Toro Rosso, following a disastrous three-year spell supplying McLaren which was hampered by poor reliability and a lack of performance. 

But Honda has made impressive gains in both departments with new suitors Toro Rosso, highlighted by a brilliant fourth place finish for Pierre Gasly in Bahrain, though reliability niggles have set the team back in what it described as a “rollercoaster” start to 2018.  

Its progress has ultimately persuaded Red Bull’s senior team to end its 12-year relationship with Renault in favour of Honda power from next season.

“I think the big thing is with Honda is, they’ve got a lot of resource, a lot of fire power, but I think they needed a fresh input,” Key said in an exclusive interview on Honda Racing F1's official website. 

“And because we'd experienced a different power unit the year before, we had a generally good idea of what’s going on, and how certain things were working, and what’s achievable.

“So we were able to talk about where we thought they should be with some things. And because they’ve got that fire power of people, and talent, and investment and so on, they were able to react to that pretty quickly.

“What we've seen recently is their reaction to some of that, but also, predominantly, a lot of their own internal work just coming good, now that they’ve got the opportunity to do it without reliability concerns.

“I think the other thing that I've noticed a change in is just their confidence is higher. They’re willing to stick their neck out a bit and try stuff, compared to maybe when we first started working together. So, if that continues, then it's a good way to go.”

Key dismissed suggestions of there being less pressure on Honda to deliver for Toro Rosso compared to its ill-fated tenure with McLaren, but stressed the Faenza-based squad is maintaining a positive approach to its relationship with the Japanese engine manufacturer and is refusing to resort to “finger-pointing” tactics. 

“Lots of people have said that it's gonna be less pressure than the previous team, but that’s not the case at all,” he added. “Of course the pressure is on. But we've tried to make it a positive pressure rather than a negative one. 

“So, we’re very transparent, we’re very honest with each other. And that’s helped us work our way through issues very easily, and in a very straightforward way.

“There's no finger pointing or anything like that. So we’re able to have honest conversations. When we first met, there was obviously a little bit of apprehension and stress about what they'd just been through. It was clear that we needed to let them reset a little bit, and get their house in order, which they’ve done really well.

“I think there was some organisational changes, which have helped. A very, very high workload for one person has been split now into two, and that’s allowing a very complex task to be covered a little bit easier.”

Key described the switch to Honda power provided Toro Rosso with an “enormous challenge” and said he is encouraged by the gains the team has benefitted from, particularly following the introduction of a major update in Canada. 

“It was an enormous challenge, and a very big responsibility,” he explained. “You’ve got a massive company putting their faith in a chassis team, and you’ve got to live up to that expectation. 

“I have to say, we didn’t take on extra people to deal with this, we did it all with the existing team, and everyone rose to that challenge really well.

“The good news is, although there's been a few glitches, but because it's been only a few, they’ve been able to concentrate on performance development, and that sort of thing. And it is actually beginning to come quite prolifically now.”