UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > STR must improve

'Driver problem' blights team

Aug.10 (GMM) Team co-owner Gerhard Berger says Toro Rosso must make the jump into formula one's midfield before too long.

The Austrian veteran said: "If for whatever reason this is not possible, then there is no incentive for me."

He acknowledges that "if points positions are what you aim for, formula one is too expensive."

But Berger, who with team principal Franz Tost currently runs the former Minardi squad, insisted that his longer term goal is to step back from the front line anyway.

The ten time grand prix winner, who took a break in recent years after being BMW's joint motor sport director alongside Mario Theissen, told the newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung: "Actually that is my goal -- that Franz, who already does a great job, runs it alone."

Berger admits that the STR2 single seater has not been up to scratch in 2007, but insists that the team also had a "driver problem".

Scott Speed has already been replaced by Sebastian Vettel, and other 2007 regular Vitantonio Liuzzi is on the cusp of losing his place to multiple Champ Car title winner Sebastien Bourdais for 2008.

Berger said Super Aguri has this year been doing the sort of job that he hoped Toro Rosso would be able to achieve.

"They brought in the points when it was possible, and I had hoped that we could also slip into this role."

But he admitted that, compared with F1's grandee teams, STR cannot expect to regularly score points or finish on the podium -- let along plan for wins.

"With Toro Rosso we are talking about 150 workers, compared to 600 to 1000 with the big teams.

"Honda though has about 800 people and nevertheless we are on their level," Berger said.

Written: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:05:34