Q & A with Toro Rosso's Franz Tost

Franz Tost: We are quite optimistic. I think we can make a step forward with the new car and the new engine. We have one very experienced driver and the second we will see... Therefore it is becoming better and better and we expect a quite successful season.

Q. Are we expecting a some noise over customer cars in Melbourne? Have you changed your position on that?

FT: The position has not changed. Before we decided what to do for 2007 we very carefully studied the regulation with lawyers and with the FIA together. And then the interpretation from our side is quite clear, that we do not run the customer car.

We have our own car, which is, in many aspects, totally different to the Red Bull car, and the design of the car is being made by Red Bull Technology, together with Adrian Newey, in co-operation with the designers of Toro Rosso. Therefore I think we are within the regulations.

Q. Are you willing to take up a fight?

FT: Yes, if this is the case then we have to fight it out.

Q. Will you do whatever it takes?

FT: We, Toro Rosso cannot influence if they decided to go to court. I don't think it is good for all of us, but at the end we have to accept it.

Q. Is there any effort being made to avoid that?

FT: No effort in this case. We think we are within the regulations, therefore, if you mean the effort being some discussion... We think we are 100% within the regulations so it is not necessary to make any compromise, although I don't know which compromise we can make, because either you are within the regulations or outside the regulations.

Q. Like not taking points for example?

FT: No, no way.

Q. Could a third party such as Bernie Ecclestone get involved to smooth things out?

FT: You must ask Bernie. I explained the situation at the team principals meeting, and therefore there is nothing more to add from our side. We think we are within the regulations and the opposition do not think so.

Q. What is your optimism based on?

FT: It is based on the interpretation of the regulations where the car is being designed by Toro Rosso people. This car is very much different to any other car: we have another engine, we are completely apart. There are many different things. I don't know what others want to claim.

Q. How much of contribution has Alex Hitzinger made since he joined?

FT: Regarding the engine, and the engine environment, because he came from this, there were lots of things, but on the chassis side he came late. It was very important for the last couple of months to organise the technical staff so he did a very good job there.

Q. How many people do you have in Faenza now?

FT: Currently we have 150, and we have a department for composites, a department for assembly and for manufacturing, then racing and testing. We can manufacture all the parts, but we are working with many suppliers.

Q. The Ferrari deal is for two years?

FT: For sure it is two years.

Q. What about the second driver?

FT: We are in negotiations with Scott (Speed) but there are some small contractual issues to sort out. In my opinion it is nothing special, there is nothing to add. It is confidential, we will see.

Q. The engine you are getting is the same as Ferrari or the Spyker?

FT: I don't know what Spyker is getting but we get the same engine as Ferrari.

Q. What do you get?

FT: Only the engine and auxiliaries. Gearbox we do ourselves. We get about 35-40 engines, depending on the tests, etc...

Q. What are your plans for the third driver slot?

FT: We are in negotiations with some drivers.

Q. What is your realistic target this year?

FT: It's difficult to say at this stage. We are not out in testing, we are starting today, so we have to see where we end up, and I cannot say anything , we don't know the car at all. We start testing tomorrow and then we go to Bahrain and in the second Bahrain test we should have the second car.