Yorkshireman joins Italian squad on consultancy basis
Tuesday 26 April 2016 15:14, UK
Toro Rosso have signed former Manor boss John Booth as director of racing on a consultancy basis.
Booth has a long history in motorsport having run the successful Manor junior formula team which helped guide and develop the careers of many F1 starts including Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.
Having left the F1 team bearing the Manor name at the end of 2015, Booth's Manor Motorsport now compete in the LMP2 class of the World Endurance Championship.
The 61-year-old will take up his new role with immediate effect and will join the team at the Russian GP.
"It is a great honour to join such a well-established and competitive team as Scuderia Toro Rosso" said Booth.
"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 and the team this weekend in Sochi."
Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost is hoping Booth's experience will help the team build on a start to 2016 which has yielded 16 points from the opening three races.
"I have known John for many years and I am delighted to welcome him to the team. Formula 1 is becoming ever more complex, with recent changes on the tyre front, car set-up, radio communications and so forth," said Tost.
"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."
Watch the whole Russian GP weekend - LIVE ONLY on Sky Sports F1. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday May 1, with build-up from 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV.
