Toro Rosso STR9
Daniil Kvyat in his STR9 during the 2014 Chinese Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorToro Rosso
Designer(s)James Key (Technical Director)
Luca Furbatto (Chief Designer)
Brendan Gilhome (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorToro Rosso STR8
SuccessorToro Rosso STR10
Technical specifications[1][2]
ChassisCarbon fibre composite monocoque structure
Suspension (front)Upper and lower carbon wishbones, pushrod, torsion bar springs, central damper and anti roll bars, Multimatic/Penske dampers
Suspension (rear)Upper and lower carbon wishbones, pullrod, torsion bar springs, central damper and anti roll bars, Multimatic/Penske dampers
EngineRenault Energy F1-2014 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6, turbo
TransmissionRed Bull Technology 8-speed sequential gearbox – hydraulically actuated
Weight691 kg (1,523.4 lb)
FuelTotal[note 1]
LubricantsTotal[note 1]
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
Competition history
Notable entrantsScuderia Toro Rosso
Notable drivers25. France Jean-Éric Vergne[3]
26. Russia Daniil Kvyat[3]
Debut2014 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
190000

The Toro Rosso STR9 is a Formula One racing car designed by Scuderia Toro Rosso to compete in the 2014 Formula One season.[4] It was driven by Jean-Éric Vergne and 2013 GP3 Series champion Daniil Kvyat,[3] who replaced Daniel Ricciardo after Ricciardo moved to Red Bull Racing. The STR9 was the first Toro Rosso car to use an engine built by Renault,[5] the Energy F1-2014.[6] The Toro Rosso STR9 was also the first Italian-licensed F1 car to use Renault engines since the Benetton B201 in 2001 and was also the first Faenza-based Formula One car to utilize turbocharged engines since the Minardi M187 in 1987.

Season summary

2014 confirmed Toro Rosso's position as a respectable midfield runner unable to make the final breakthrough needed to become a top team. The team's package was quick and reliable, but not quite enough to regularly score points. Indeed, Vergne and Kvyat finished just outside the points, no less than eight times. The highlight of the year was Vergne's run to sixth at the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix to score the team's season highest finish. But 6th place finish at Singapore was not enough for Vergne to remain in Toro Rosso squad for 2015 season and hence he was replaced by Carlos Sainz Jr. for the following season. Kvyat, despite a points finish in the first race of the season, lost his motivation after a sequence of bad luck and narrowly missing out on further points. He decided to move to Red Bull Racing for the following season after Sebastian Vettel decided to move to Ferrari team, and would be replaced by future world champion Max Verstappen.

The team eventually finished seventh in the Constructors' Championship with 30 points. This was their 2nd best WCC position so far, but there was still some way to go to take on the likes of Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, Williams and McLaren.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
AUS MAL BHR CHN ESP MON CAN AUT GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN JPN RUS USA BRA ABU‡
2014 Scuderia Toro Rosso Renault Energy F1-2014 P France Jean-Éric Vergne 8 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret 8 Ret 10 13 9 11 13 6 9 13 10 13 12 30 7th
Russia Daniil Kvyat 9 10 11 10 14 Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret 14 9 11 14 11 14 15 11 Ret

‡ — Teams and drivers scored double points at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Despite CEPSA is an oil and gas company as a major sponsor of Scuderia Toro Rosso since mid-2011 season, the CEPSA branding appears on the STR9, but the car uses Total fuel and lubricants.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Scuderia Toro Rosso STR9 - F1technical.net".
  2. ^ a b "Toro Rosso confirms deals with Cepsa, Nova". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 6 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "2014 Scuderia Toro Rosso Driver Line-Up". Scuderia Toro Rosso. Scuderia Toro Rosso SPA. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  4. ^ "The Shortest Month". scuderiatororosso.com. Scuderia Toro Rosso. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014. On the Scuderia Toro Rosso front, the first STR9 chassis is currently being assembled in the Faenza factory. New rules or not, the same procedures apply and over the Christmas period Jean-Eric Vergne and Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat turned up at the factory for the traditional seat fitting in the new chassis that will carry all our hopes in 2014.
  5. ^ Straw, Edd (26 May 2013). "Toro Rosso seals Renault Formula 1 engine deal for 2014". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Renault unveil 2014 turbo engine". Formula One World Championship Limited. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
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