“You don’t win anything with kids” was what former Scottish footballer Alan Hansen said about the Manchester United team of the early nineties and how wrong he was. Now, the youthful Toro Rosso team have adversity of their own to overcome if they’re to achieve anything in Montreal. Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi have both rued their lack of experience following a poor Friday practice session in Montreal.

The Italian team who lifted the 2006 World Cup had experience in abundance, and their knowhow was enough to carry them over the line, but will the youngest team on the grid be able to overcome the odds this weekend. The duo had not driven the track before going out for the first practice of the weekend, and it showed as they found themselves in 16^th and 18^th respectively. It gave a boost to the rookie Lotus team, who have targeted Toro Rosso as the team to beat.

“We’re not far away from the Toro Rossos. Maybe tomorrow in qualifying, I’ll be able to have a go at challenging them, and see what happens” said Heikki Kovalainen.

Following a string of consistent results over the past few races which have seen them in and around the points on numerous occasions, a setback such as this will not be welcomed by the team, as they look to consolidate a place in the midfield.

Whilst Spain meet Switzerland in their opening game of the World Cup on June 16^th, this weekend the pair will have to work as a team if they’re going to achieve anything this weekend.  But despite the poor start to the weekend, the pair are confident of improving as race-day nears.

Buemi: “Now, having learned my way round, I can expect a better day tomorrow, although we don’t seem very competitive at the moment.”

Alguersuari: “I need to do more laps and tomorrow I will be in a position to push harder, with what I have learned so far. I think the lap times will come and the important thing now is to stay calm.”

The Gilles Villeneuve circuit is unlike many others on the calendar, and a tough track to learn for a rookie. It combines the speed and flowing chicanes of Silverstone with the tight feel, and close walls of Monaco, therefore knowing that one wrong move could result in serious injury, makes it a test of nerve for any new driver. Therefore, the chances of the Franz Tost’s team reaching the points this weekend appears unlikely. Although they are expecting to go quicker this weekend, I can only see them making the points as a consequence of a number of retirements in front of them.

For the record, British official Howard Webb will referee for the World Cup encounter between the sides, and many people will be hoping the Brits will take charge again this Sunday.

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