Gasly: Honda took a “massive step" in Bahrain 

Pierre Gasly has hailed Toro Rosso’s Formula 1 engine partner Honda for taking a  “massive step” forward in performance at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix. 

The Frenchman sealed a brilliant fourth-place finish for the Faenza-based squad in Bahrain, after progressing into Q3 and setting the sixth-fastest time during qualifying. 

Gasly’s fourth place marked the Japanese engine manufacturer’s best result since its return to F1, having endured a torrid three-year spell with McLaren plagued by poor reliability and a lack of performance. 

The result contrasted greatly to the team’s performance in Melbourne’s season-opener, where Toro Rosso failed to score a single point after both drivers were knocked out in Q1, with Gasly qualifying last. 

“They did a massive step, definitely,” Gasly said. “It's still difficult to compare exactly, so I don't want to give any numbers, but they gave quite a big step.

“We brought a new MGU-H this weekend which is only reliability. We are surprised to be that good, there was no performance really in two weeks. Finally we changed the setup, and I think the aero platform is much better. 

“We seem to have more load and a bit less drag. It improved everything, our corner speed and the straight line looked pretty good all weekend. To finish fourth in Formula 1, you need to have a good engine, so the engine is good.”

The 2016 GP2 champion, who labelled his first F1 points score in his seventh race as feeling similar to winning a grand prix, hopes Toro Rosso can continue to make progress with Honda throughout the campaign. 

“The pace was strong. I saw that we were faster than Magnussen behind. I don't know compared to the other guys behind, compared to the Renaults, but we were fast on both compounds as well with no degradation. 

“So definitely understood much more this weekend than in Melbourne about our car setup and the tyres. I really hope it's going to be useful for us for the next couple of races.”