Toro Rosso is a better place than Renault for a rookie to adapt to life as a formula one racer, Franz Tost insists.
Following Renault newcomer Nelson Piquet’s nightmarish debut grand prix in Australia, Toro Rosso’s team boss told Auto Motor und Sport that he thinks the Brazilian can expect more of the same difficulties in 2008.
“He is in a much worse position compared with our rookie Sebastian Vettel,” the Austrian said.
“(Piquet has) the pressure of a works team, a double world champion as teammate, a car that is difficult to drive, no time to learn in pace.
“For Piquet I see him having a really hard year.”
Tost’s Renault counterpart Flavio Briatore, however, believes that Melbourne might have been a one off for 22-year-old Piquet.
“Nelsinho had the problems of an entire season in one go,” he said. “On his side, everything went wrong. It can only go better in Malaysia.”
