Franz Tost being interviewed:
Honda has earned a reputation over the last three years for building engines that are unreliable and have too little power. Then Brendon Hartley drives 93 laps here on the first day and keeps up easily. What happened?
Honda was not as bad as it was presented last year. In addition, Honda has worked very hard over the winter months - both in terms of durability and in terms of performance. We see the progress. We could easily have done more than these 93 laps. Without problems. In terms of power, we are very satisfied with the unit. I know Honda, I did not expect anything else from the Japanese. If Honda kicks properly, it's only a matter of time before the results come.
You have been a customer of various engine manufacturers for years, now you are an exclusive partner of Honda. What changed that at Toro Rosso?
That has brought enormous benefits. It starts with the design of the vehicle. Here, our technicians have a good influence on how, for example, an oil tank is placed on the front of the power unit or where the various lines that need to be routed or what the exhaust system should look like. You can work out great advantages in terms of space in the chassis, in the weight distribution, in the aerodynamics. These are significant benefits.
In addition, we are involved in the entire test bench trials, which means our technicians have a direct influence on changes in engine tuning. I can remember a scene two weeks ago when our guys came back from Honda, from a bench test, they told me enthusiastically - they could have done more in one afternoon on engine mapping than in ten years before that. Even during the test on the test bench fine work is done. That's huge.
You spent a year with Ralf Schumacher in Japan. How important is the understanding of Japanese culture for working with Honda?
Let's put it this way - it's always important to understand business partners. No matter what culture they have. But it is true that the Japanese culture differs significantly from the European, if we look at the whole behavior and communication. It was certainly an advantage that I know Japan quite well and the culture there. I like Japan because I like the country and its people.
I then initiated that seminars are held in-house with us. I find it important that technicians who work with Japanese engineers understand their patterns of behavior, can interpret reactions properly, and then not make wrong decisions on an emotional level. These seminars have arrived very well with us, we started at the end of November. It's not about the language, no one learns Japanese in such a short time. It's about understanding behaviors and answers so as not to get in the wrong.
What distinguishes the working methodology of Honda and Renault?
(Smiles bittersweet.) At Renault, I have found no working methodology. With Honda, everything is going very well.
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