John Booth joins Toro Rosso on a consultancy basis

26 April 2016 04:53

Former Virgin/Marussia team principal John Booth is to work with Toro Rosso on a consultancy basis, the Italian Formula One outfit have announced.

Englishman Booth - who created the Manor Motorsport team in 1990, which helped school the likes of future world champions Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen - has been named director of racing and will take up his responsibilities from this weekend's Russian Grand Prix.

"It is a great honour to join such a well-established and competitive team as Toro Rosso" the 61-year-old said. "It is a team that has achieved so much in a relatively short space of time.

"I am looking forward to getting started and working with Franz (Tost) and the team this weekend in Sochi."

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost believes Booth's expertise can prove invaluable as Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr chase down podium places after both drivers finished in the top 10 at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Tost said: "Formula One is becoming ever more complex, with recent changes on the tyre front, car set-up, radio communications and so forth.

"Therefore, having a competitive car and talented drivers, both of which we have, on its own is not enough.

"With his vast experience I am sure John will help the team raise its game and become a more effective force over a race weekend."

Source: PA