Toro Rosso's DRS innovation for top speed in Formula 1
The Italian Grand Prix highlighted a design lead the Toro Rosso-Honda Formula 1 team has pursued to help its straightline speed

Like sister team Red Bull with Renault, Toro Rosso's power deficit has encouraged it to do all it can with wing settings to help performance on the straights.
While it did not go as aggressive as Red Bull with the level of downforce it ran at Monza, Toro Rosso again opted for a unique DRS design element that has played a key part in helping keep it in the fight this year.
The DRS pod actuator (arrowed) is different to other teams' in that it features a bespoke arch underneath it.
The aim of the Toro Rosso design is to ensure that when the DRS is activated and the wing flap pops up, it cannot go beyond a certain level.

One of the risks, as Sauber found out with Marcus Ericsson's crash last Friday, is that if the raised wing flap goes above a certain point it can actually start generating lift and so will not close when the drivers wants to deactivate it.
Toro Rosso's design means that the team can be more confident that the wing will stay exactly at the point it wants - so it means it can be more aggressive in the level it is happy to take it to because it knows there is very little risk of a problem.
The wing also featured three of the open-end style louvres in the endplate that the team pioneered back in 2016 and have subsequently been copied by the entire grid at some point.
It is not just in the wings that Toro Rosso has done some interesting things.
The area ahead of the rear tyre has become an area of intense development for the entire grid over the last few years, with a plethora of slots, holes, flaps, strakes and various surface geometries used to manipulate the airflow before it arrives at the tyre, altering its effect on the diffuser alongside.
More recently Toro Rosso's floor edge has been extruded upward and features a tail section that abruptly influences the airflow, altering the airflow's circulation around the tyre.


Previous article
Formula 1 won't have new manufacturer in 2021 says FIA's Jean Todt
Next article
Raikkonen's resurgence is Ferrari's biggest problem

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Teams | Toro Rosso |
Author | Giorgio Piola |
Toro Rosso's DRS innovation for top speed in Formula 1
Trending
Starting Grid for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Fast Facts: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
The clues Hamilton’s F1 contract afterthought gives to his future
The Formula 1 world reacted with surprise when it learned Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new Mercedes deal guarantees his presence on the grid only until the end of 2021. Both parties claimed publicly they were happy with the arrangement but, asks MARK GALLAGHER, is there more to it than that?
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed