Toro Rosso reject claims of a 'crisis' in Red Bull driver stable

Franz Tost has insisted the Toro Rosso and Red Bull driver stable is still in good order amid accusations that the setup is in “crisis” as drivers struggle to make the step up from the junior team.

In recent years several highly thought of drivers have failed to make the step up to Formula 1 causing former drivers to return. Pierre Gasly has been the latest to come into the spotlight with the French driver struggling for form in his first two races for Red Bull.

Brendan Hartley, Daniil Kvyat are two other victims with the Russian is back in F1 with Toro Rosso. Kvyat is in his third spell at the constructor but Tost denied the claims about the driver programme, which was once filled with talent.

“No, it is nonsense that the Red Bull young driver program is in crisis,” Tost told Motorsport.com.

“There would only be a crisis if we had no drivers from our programme at Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

Tost also praised Red Bull’s current pair of Max Verstappen and Gasly: “But we have Max [Verstappen], who can win races and hopefully also the championship; the talented and fast Pierre and two fantastic riders at Toro Rosso."