Q: Franz, what is the situation at Toro Rosso? Right now you have no engine in the back of your car for 2016, which makes racing rather difficult… Franz Tost: Ha, I hope that it will not be the case that we have no engine in the back of our car in 2016. I am quite optimistic that we will have a solution for next season and that we will be on the starting grid in Melbourne - with an engine in the back… Q: Do you have any idea what kind of engine? FT: We are negotiating with Ferrari, but have not signed a contract up until this very moment.



Q: Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz is quoted as saying that retiring both Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso from F1 racing could be an option. Why both? FT: If Dietrich Mateschitz decides to stop Formula One because of various reasons then the lights go out in both facilities.

We need a decision very soon. I don’t want to talk about a deadline, but the earlier we get a decision the bigger the chances of being ready in time for pre-season testing Franz Tost on which engines Toro Rosso will use in 2016

Q: Why is Toro Rosso only thought of as the junior team to Red Bull Racing - and not as an individual entity? Surely it has completely different needs to Red Bull Racing… FT: In the end it is a decision by Red Bull and Mr Mateschitz - and whatever reasons he will take into consideration Toro Rosso has to accept. I personally hope for the team and all the employees that we will still be here next year.



Q: When will there be a decision? Time is running out with having to build a new car, whatever the engine - especially with testing being brought forward by two weeks… FT: Indeed the new schedule that brings forward the first race to mid-March - and testing to the last week of February and first week of March - could bring us into troubles. We need a decision very soon. I don’t want to talk about a deadline, but the earlier we get a decision the bigger the chances of being ready in time for the tests - or at least for the first race in Australia.



Q: Lately both teams - Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso - have been late in getting their car ready for the season and effectively used the opening races as test runs. Isn’t that annoying if it happens over and over again? FT: Of course you want to be prepared in the best possible way - so that when you test you really do test. The last few years it was always difficult - especially 2014 - because of problems with our partners. Although this year was not too bad - we did quite a lot of mileage in winter. Now for 2016 everything will depend on when a decision will be made.

Ferrari is not the final decision maker - that is Mr Mateschitz Franz Tost on Toro Rosso's future