Toro Rosso are undoubtedly one of F1's oddball teams. Ushering in an era of B and even C teams naturally came with a lot of of tinkering and trying. Over the past 14 years they've also been known for some of the most iconic drivers and lineups. We went through the trouble of ranking them all, so you don't have to.
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed (2006)
Toro Rosso's first lineup, and their only one featuring an Italian driver, stands out as their their worst by far. Speed and Liuzzi were unimpressive in an equally unimpressive car. No other driver would take the seat after it was announced they were taking over from back-markers Minardi. Unfortunately for the Italian and American, neither would ever make the step up to the big team.
11. Vitantonio Liuzzi and Sébastian Bourdais (2007)
Times didn't improve much from the first season to the next. Bourdais was undoubtedly an improvement in terms of speed, but he didn't end up having the chops to cut it in open wheel. He was already a four time touring car series champion, but that didn't translate. The team had another dismal year at the back.
10. Sébastian Buemi and Sébastian Bourdais/Jaime Alguersuari (2009)
Jumping ahead to 2009, Buemi stepped in during the winter of 2009 to partner Bourdais. Buemi became Toro Rosso's first Midfield-class driver. Buemi would maintain a short career in the sport, but go on to find future success in Formula E. As for Bourdais, he was replaced in the middle of the season due to poor performance. That made him the first in a long line of drivers to be shuffled around internally by Red Bull. What a tradition to start.
9. Sébastian Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari (2010-11)
Unlike the prior entries this 9th placed lineup persisted for a continuous two years. Buemi was clearly the better of these two, but for a lower midfield team with a shoestring budget, this lineup proved ambitious. And unlike today''s drivers they were both beneficiaries of Red Bull. The calm hands of Webber and Vettel at Red Bull meant there was no pressure to produce world class talent. That eventually changed.
8. Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley (2018)
Many like to argue that Brendon Hartley was unlucky. Many would be wrong. Even with the odds in his favor, he was unable to produce the drives that even Daniil Kyvat does at AlphaTauri today. Despite that, he is a driver at least on-par with Alguersuari. Gasly meanwhile was a revelation in that early Toro Rosso car. His eventual top-6 finish in Bahrain was what catapulted his rise to Red Bull. In terms of pure Toro Rosso-based careers, Gasly stands out as the GOAT.
7. Daniil Kyvat and Alexander Albon (2019)
This version of Daniil Kyvat did not reach the levels previously expected of him. His demotion-era self lost an understandable amount of confidence. That circumstance was coupled with Albon's lack of experience in 2019 to make for one of the strangest modern lineups the team has had on paper, but a tricky one in practice. These circumstances shifted as soon as Gasly's weaknesses started to show. The potential for a Red Bull call-up motivated both o show their true mettle. Unfortunately for Albon, his journey through Red Bull would end prematurely.
6. Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kyvat (2014)
The forgettable 2014 lineup of Vergne and Kyvat actually saw the Russian come in as a young prospect to the sport. The first victim of the instability at Red Bull, Kyvat would eventually drive for them for nearly two seasons before getting the axe midway through 2016. As for Vergne, his energy must have been drained by losing out to Kyvat for the Red Bull seat, and he promptly left the sport the following winter. This move did pay off. He now holds the record for Formula E driver's championships.
5. Carlos Sainz Jr. and Daniil Kyvat (2016-17)
This lineup indicated the heights to which Toro Rosso were aiming. Their goal was no longer to service whatever drivers came through the junior ranks, but to hold onto their own talents with the goal of success in mind. The Red Bull junior program was just starting to flower (minus the previous injection of Vettel), and it showed when they released their most balanced driver lineup in the team's history.
4. Daniel Riccardo and Jean-Eric Vergne (2012-13)
It's might be odd to think of just how much of Riccardo's career was spent in lower teams. Beginning with HRT, he had to wait patiently behind a queue of talents for the chance at success. This lineup is very clean all-around, and it'd make a good upper midfield lineup on today's grid.
3. Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz Jr. (2017)
This lineup didn't last long. Sainz moved over to Renault mid-season, and Gasly was promoted to Toro Rosso while still competing in the Super Formula series. He even missed a race to compete there. That being said, Gasly loves that Toro Rosso, and Sainz is undoubtedly one of the most consistent drivers on the grid. It's a pairing even a Renault/Racing Point fan would love to see today.
2. Sebastian Vettel and Sébastian Bourdais (2008)
Sometimes when people write off 2020 Seb, I think back to '08. Often people are quick to forget the mercurial star that Vettel as he entered the sport. To this day, Seb's 2008 campaign is the stuff of legends. That 2008 Pole/Race win at a wet Monza is an immortal F1 moment. His later career move to Red Bull would kickstart the dominance that made the team what we know today. As for Bourdais, his impact has been previously covered. His presence deeply demotes the strength of this lineup. If one were to swap in a Pierre Gasly into this setup, this would likely become the greatest of all time.
1. Carlos Sainz Jr. and Max Verstappen (2015-16)
This one is the GOAT. A future Red Bull and Ferrari driver lining up in the midfield is every team's dream. Sainz actually gave Max a worthy run for his money, and it was only after his debut win in 2016 that it was evident how much of a star Max was going to be. Red Bull would've likely taken this lineup this past season if it were possible. That defines the mission of Toro Rosso. One day in the future they would undoubtedly love this lineup again.
