Within the Bahrain season opener Yuki Tsunoda began 14th and Nyck de Vries 18th, and neither driver made it into the factors.
In first follow in Jeddah on Friday, Tsunoda was a good 10th quickest, three spots forward of his team-mate.
Regardless of that obvious signal of enchancment, Tost complained that over the winter his technical crew promised that the brand new automobile would characterize a big step ahead, however thus far that hasn’t been realised.
“Sadly, I feel it is presently the efficiency degree of the automobile, as a result of we anticipated a a lot better automobile,” he stated when requested concerning the Bahrain race.
“We struggled in Bahrain. It seems a bit bit totally different right here. I hope that not less than, we’re with one automobile in Q3 of qualifying, however now we have to do numerous issues to make the automobile quicker. Particularly on the aerodynamic aspect, there are totally different programmes happening.
“The engineers are telling me that we are going to make some good progress, however I do not belief them anymore. I simply wish to see the lap time, as a result of that is the one factor which counts.”
Requested if he actually meant that he didn’t belief his engineers, Tost was unrepentant.
“Throughout the winter months they instructed me the automobile is unbelievable, we have made a giant progress,” he stated. “Then we come to Bahrain and we’re nowhere. What ought to I say?”
Sparks kick up from Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT04
Photograph by: Mark Sutton
Elaborating on the weaknesses of the present bundle he stated: “Not sufficient downforce. Subsequently the automobile is unstable beneath braking, overheating the rear tyres, washing out on the apex, dangerous traction, every little thing that it is advisable do a great lap time.”
Tost stated price cap restrictions wouldn’t forestall the crew from creating the automobile and even altering idea.
“The funds cap doesn’t forestall us doing improvement work, that is included in our marketing strategy,” he defined. “The query is now, will we go in the precise course?
“As I discussed earlier than, in the course of the winter months we noticed that not less than on the paper, on the pc, we made large progress compared to final 12 months’s automobile.
“However all these figures these days, as I discussed earlier than, I do not belief them anymore.
“I wish to see now with the subsequent steps, that we go in the precise course, that we will enhance the efficiency of the automobile, that we’re in a position to do that. And this can be a specialist work on the ground, brake ducts, and all the opposite aerodynamic components.
“I feel now with all of the information now we have after Bahrain take a look at and after the Bahrain race, the engineers needs to be able to type it out and to give you new components, which ought to enhance the efficiency of the automobile.”
He added: “We’re arising with updates to the subsequent races, we are going to carry one thing to Melbourne and afterwards additionally to Baku. It is inside our programme that we carry to just about each race a small improve.”
