Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost says there is no reason why his outfit should not be fighting for fourth position alongside Force India and Williams in 2018.
The Faenza-based team has finished seventh in the Constructors' standings for the past four seasons, despite repeatedly promising to step up its performance.
This year it will become Honda's sole engine customer and the Japanese manufacturer is promising to make gains of its own, giving STR no excuses if it underperforms again, according to Tost.
"We must be within the top five," he told Racer. "Look, the first three positions are gone, forget it, this is another league and another world because they have much bigger financial resources and are much bigger teams.
"But then from position four onwards, everything is possible because Force India is running with a similar budget to us, Williams as well.
"We are working at a similar level and there shouldn't be any excuses from our side not to be close to them. To beat them is another question, but to be up there."
Tost is however wary of the threat McLaren and Renault could pose this year, with both teams expected to take big steps forward.
"I expect that McLaren will become quite competitive as well and Renault will make a step forwards, but it means from fourth position onwards everything is possible."
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