Exclusive Scuderia Toro Rosso factory visit
Published on 09 December 2014 by Stefan Meens
After Max Verstappen’s test day at Imola in the STR7 was cut short due to continuous rain, Verstappen.nl joined the Dutchman back to the Scuderia Toro Rosso factory in Faenza. There, the Verstappen Info Page was given an exclusive tour of the facilities.
Upon arrival at the industrial site, it is clear that Toro Rosso is no small operation. The facilities, three main buildings and several smaller additional buildings, are spread over a couple of streets. Apart from a few flags and signs, the exterior of the buildings does not give the sense that a high-tech racing team, like Toro Rosso, resides here.
However, our impressions change rapidly as we arrive at the main entrance, which is only accessible after going through a massive steel gate. No strangers or trespassers are allowed on the terrain and only a select group of people are allowed into the factory of the former Minardi team.
A lot has changed since Red Bull bought the team off Paul Stoddart in 2005. Before the switch of owner, the outfit was a lot smaller and was forced to buy many components of external suppliers. However, both facilities and personnel have seen a rapid growth over the last decade, not least because Toro Rosso now designs and produces most components in-house. Moreover, the expansion has not stagnated.
Formula 1 is all about continuous development and Toro Rosso is therefore investing in a new factory, a three story building covering 7.500 m2. It will replace the oldest part of the current complex.
More importantly, what does the current factory facilitate? We are given a tour by Toro Rosso’s very own press officer Fabiana Valenti, who apologies that we are not allowed into all sections as certain areas house parts for the top secret 2015 car. Nevertheless, we are able to see some extraordinary machinery that are pivotal in the design, development and creation process of a modern day F1 car.
First stop is the ‘machine shop’ in which we find many tools that produce most parts on a modern day Formula 1 car. One of the prominent devices in the shop is an SLS-machine, which is effectively a 3D-printer creating components from virtual designed models by layering laser melted metal powder. The end results are often parts for prototypes or wind tunnel models.
After that, it is time for the 'composite department' in which all things carbon fibre are manufactured. Men in white laboratory coats emphasise the feeling something special is being build here in Faenza. The carbon fibre parts are made to measure with layers of carbon being cut, glued together and polished before being ‘baked’ in a giant oven.
A couple of corridors further along, we arrive at the 'operations room'. In this area, the team has recreated what appears to be the pit wall at a Grand Prix weekend or a test session. Only a limited amount of team personnel are allowed to be at the track during a race weekend, which means a large group of team members monitor and analyse the race back home in the “operations room”.
The last part of the tour takes us to the so called 'assembly area' which is pretty self-explanatory. This is where the thoroughbred F1 racers are assembled. At the time of our visit, it is not as busy. A dozen or so mechanics are putting together an STR9, chassis 04. The workload has eased off with the 2014 season wrapped up and the arrival of the 2015 car yet to be confirmed.
Throughout the factory, we see photographs of drivers and cars from the team’s rich heritage hanging alongside huge calendars which prominently feature the Grand Prix weekends. It is another example of how dedicated Scuderia Toro Rosso is to racing in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Before we leave, we pass the team’s trophy cabinet. All attention is drawn to the trophies earned at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, when Sebastian Vettel took an extraordinary victory. Near the trophy cabinet, a huge print of Vettel on the highest step of the Monza podium is displayed for all to see. Walking past it, Fabiana reveals that Vettel was always her favourite Toro Rosso driver. “Until now. From now on it’s Max!”
