Toro Rosso willing to be Red Bull's guinea pig "if it makes them win"

You won't want to read this if your name is Daniil Kvyat or Alexander Albon, but Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost has revealed that the team is expecting to be Red Bull's "guinea pig" in terms of development once again in 2019, which will likely result in a lot of grid penalties.

As Toro Rosso is Red Bull's development team, it's always been like that. The Faenza-based team are mainly funded by Red Bull (over 50% of the team's budget is funded by them), in exchange that they help them develop their cars during the season.

"We won't have to have internal discussions about that; that's part of our approach," Tost revealed to Motorsport-Total.

"If we can help Red Bull win the title by being the guinea pig in terms of developments, then that'll happen."

Toro Rosso took a major amount of mechanical grid penalties last season, leaving drivers Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley with major tasks at the start of races to fight their way back into the points. The team eventually finished ninth in the constructors' championship.

"We're happier with this role because we'll see the fruits of our labour as well. Not only in terms of the engine, but we'll have advantages in other aspects as well because of the partnership between Honda and Red Bull. The full backside of the RB15 will come our way as well."

Despite the many grid penalties Toro Rosso and Honda took in 2018, Red Bull still opted to switch to the Japanese manufacturer for their power units, ending their 12-year relationship with Renault. It's been seen as a very risky move, but the Bulls themselves are confident it'll pay off.