Toro Rosso is “pumped up”, has exceeded its pre-season expectations, and can aim for a top 10 finish at the Australian Grand Prix, according to full-time debutant Brendon Hartley.
Hartley will content the 2018 season with Toro Rosso, having participated in the final four Grands Prix of last year, making the switch across from the World Endurance Championship.
Hartley and team-mate Pierre Gasly combined to complete 498 laps during the second test, with the Frenchman an encouraging seventh overall on the combined leaderboard.
Toro Rosso’s two noteable setbacks came when Gasly’s programme on Tuesday was disrupted by a brake system issue, before a power unit anomaly was discovered on Friday afternoon, and Hartley reckons the team can be in the thick of the midfield scrap.
“Everyone is pumped up and positive,” said Hartley.
“The brief from the start of the year was that we wanted to build during the year. Toro Rosso had a really strong start to the year last year and there’s been a lot of changes behind the scenes as well to ensure that we can develop during the year.
“The initial brief from Toro Rosso was that Melbourne might be tough but actually after these test days we’ve exceeded our own expectations and we are definitely in the fight for those points.
“Our goal has to be points. It would be crazy not saying that going into Melbourne.
“It’s still hard to get a clear picture of where everyone lines up but we have to go to Melbourne with the right attitude and make the most of it and hopefully come out with my first F1 point.”
Hartley also believes the mileage completed by Toro Rosso, and the relative lack of issues, acts as a riposte to Honda’s critics, following the Japanese marque’s prior problems during its McLaren alliance.
“I would have thought so,” Hartley said when the notion was put to him.
“I was asked a question if I am surprised and I’m not because when I was in the factory a month ago everyone was really optimistic and really positive about this new partnership with Honda and I saw how hard everyone was working.
“I had high expectations coming here and everything has delivered. The partnership has got off to a flying start.”
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