‘Clear We Have Taken a Step Forward’ – Toto’s Chinese GP Preview

What We Learned at Albert Park

“We leave Australia with many positives but also a healthy dose of realism as to where we stand in the pecking order,” says Toto.

“The W16 provided a stable platform for the drivers, was less prone to swings in performance relative to the conditions than its predecessor, and at moments, showed strong enough pace to challenge at the front.

“It’s clear we have taken a good step forward over the winter. Our focus is now on unlocking more potential and adding performance. We are excited for that challenge.”

Maturity Leads to ‘Just Rewards’ Down Under

“The race itself was well-executed,” adds Toto.

“We made the right decisions at the right time to claim our first podium of the season. George drove a flawless race, pushing when he needed to, managing his pace to capitalise on the podium and taking advantage of the opportunities when they presented themselves. A top performance and just underlies his speed, maturity, and intelligence.”

“For Kimi, he could not have asked for a more difficult task on his Grand Prix debut: starting out of position, facing extremely difficult conditions and, at times, a treacherous track.

“Nevertheless, he handled everything that was thrown at him with a maturity beyond his years. His speed when in free air was impressive and his confidence and decisiveness when overtaking were superb.

“There will be challenging moments for him across the season, but we are pleased with the trajectory we are seeing from him already. P4 was a just reward.”

Looking Forward to ‘Another Great Chinese GP’

“We now head to Shanghai and look forward to returning to China after what was a remarkable Grand Prix last year,” says Toto.

“You could sense the passion and energy from the fans as F1 returned to the country for the first time in five years.

“As the world's largest automotive market, and one of the world's biggest economies, China is crucial to the sport's global footprint. I am sure this year will see another great event.”