Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr. says the team's aim to finish fifth in the Constructors' Standings this season has been boosted through its use of a current-year Renault power unit.
The Faenza-based team used a 2015-spec Ferrari power unit last season, meaning it had a performance deficit to its rivals, all of which were running current-spec engines. Toro Rosso still managed to score 63 points to finish seventh, just 13 points adrift of McLaren, but some way off Williams in fifth.
Sainz Jr. believes the team now has a higher chance of battling at the head of the midfield to claim that fifth-place spot, thanks not only to engine parity with their rivals, but a strong chassis.
"Every year we want to finish fifth in the championship – and this year there is a high chance, or a higher chance, because we do not have the disadvantage of the power unit as we had last season – and I do believe that the team has delivered the good chassis and aerodynamics from the previous years," he told the official Formula 1 website.
"I really hope the Toro Rosso is as fast as it looks. It is a real beauty and has caught the attention even from the big teams in terms of looks. Now let’s hope that it also behaves to match the looks. Over the last few years we’ve had a really good chassis but not the power unit to match it. Hopefully this year we will.
"I don’t say that we will fight Red Bull, Mercedes or Ferrari – but to be in the higher part of the midfield. Take last year: Williams and Force India battled for P4 – we want to join them because with a good engine our car is capable to do it."
