Toro Rosso has hired Luca Furbatto from McLaren as its new chief designer.
The 39-year-old, who was an assistant project engineer on the MP4-26, will join Toro Rosso next month.
Furbatto spent 11 years at McLaren.
Toro Rosso has expanded its technical staff since a change in the rules last year required the team to design its own car instead of using chassis supplied by Red Bull Technology.
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Image © Red Bull/Getty images
Icthyes (@icthyes)
24th November 2011, 10:17
It would be nice to see STR move up on its own two feet and regularly knock at the door of Mercedes. A livery change would be nice too, have they hired any artists too? ;-)
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
24th November 2011, 10:32
What?! Toro Rosso have one of the best liveries on the grid! Make Red Bull change theirs, it’s far duller!
This news pleases me though. I’ve got a big soft spot for the team and it’d be great if they could get back to regularly having their 2008 levels of competitiveness.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
24th November 2011, 10:35
It’s been improved of late but if anyone’s going to stop being another billboard for red Bull, it’s not going to be Red Bull now is it!
Franz
24th November 2011, 18:19
I’ve always felt that Red Bull would’ve done better to market their F1 team, as well as their products by adopting a color scheme more similar to the Red Bull can (more silver in the design). I think it would make them more identifiable with the fans (especially new fans). Personally I’ve always felt that them & Toro Rosso were too similar. Just my opinion, of course.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
25th November 2011, 8:09
Definitely. The Red Bull livery is mega-dull. The gold and purple is great!
verstappen (@verstappen)
24th November 2011, 10:33
Maybe after à takeover, I think. I like it that Toro Rosso keeps on fighting and is still willing to invest, while in fact they are for sale since customercars weren’t allowed anymore.
Eggry (@eggry)
24th November 2011, 10:39
I love Italian red bull livery than english one :D
BasCB (@bascb)
24th November 2011, 10:56
Yeah, they used to have a great livery, but it really could do with something fresh. And then be another team with some perspective and spirit instead of just another Red Bull team.
coefficient (@coefficient)
24th November 2011, 12:03
Did Giancarlio Minardi retain his 10% stake in the team when Stoddy sold out to Red Bull?
BasCB (@bascb)
24th November 2011, 16:40
no
Fixy (@)
24th November 2011, 15:24
If STR changed owner I doubt they would remain known as Toro Rosso, and thus would change livery. I love the car as it is now.
Eggry (@eggry)
24th November 2011, 10:30
STR is really developing. I don’t think Red Bull would sell them soon but when it comes, they would be much better team than Red Bull buy-out which is good.
infy (@infy)
24th November 2011, 11:15
Maybe RedBull’s new challenge is to occupy the top 4 grid positions?
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
24th November 2011, 12:44
i think that makes Luca Furbatto the only italian Chef Designer
McCarl (@carl)
24th November 2011, 14:11
Taking with hi all the McLaren data to be past on to sister team Red Bull…
ChimpSafari
24th November 2011, 16:55
My thoughts exactly
OldIron
24th November 2011, 16:55
Remind me why red bull would want it?
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
24th November 2011, 12:45
STR is getting more serious with their project,I would love to know how do Red Bull Management do work with both of their teams? Do they have a plan of giving both the team equal support?
Silverkeg (@silverkeg)
24th November 2011, 12:55
Toro Rosso have had a great second half of the season…I was worried they would lack support, but they have really got there stuff together and are a great little team.
I hope and can see them improving even more next year after what was a shaky ‘first’ year for them last in 2010.
Bookoi (@bookoi)
24th November 2011, 13:31
As good as it is to see Toro Rosso doing well, I find them the least interesting team on the grid. With only 12 teams in the world’s premier category, I’d like to see 12 unique identities.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
25th November 2011, 8:13
@bookoi I see where you’re coming from but I don’t mind the Red Bull teams in their current form. Although STR have only produced Vettel so far as a world champion, I expect he won’t be the last. Having STR design their own car is much better than RBR influence.
Carl
24th November 2011, 13:35
What is happening at McLaren. Seems they are loosing allot of senior staff members to other teams
mvi
24th November 2011, 14:38
They are gaining some too, such as Sam Michael from Williams.
Journeyer (@journeyer)
24th November 2011, 15:18
Agree with mvi. It’s the nature of the sport – the same people go round different teams. They lose some, they gain some.
west (@west)
24th November 2011, 18:06
Most of those senior staff members leaving Mclaren have been on garden leave, so mclaren has northing to loose, all data they hold is of the past.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
25th November 2011, 11:34
Fantastic news. Toro Rosso have been really impressive in the last few races, and with their latest addition to the team, I hope they can improve further into 2012.
Tiffany Benitez
8th February 2012, 2:02
Very good blog article.