Toro Rosso seals major deal, title sponsor for 2012 - report

A deal between Red Bull’s second F1 team Toro Rosso and the Spanish oil brand Cepsa is racing ahead.

That is the latest claim of the Spanish sports daily AS, despite the Cepsa-linked, Abu Dhabi state-owned Aabar recently denying the reports.

In June, part Mercedes GP-owner Aabar admitted to the talks with Red Bull but said they were not about the energy drink company’s "formula one teams".

But AS says Toro Rosso’s 2011 car will be wearing Cepsa colours starting from next weekend’s Italian grand prix at Monza because Red Bull "has already closed the deal".

The report said other brands linked to Abu Dhabi and its International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) will also be added to the STR6’s livery.

The main one will be existing Toro Rosso sponsor Falcon Private - a Swiss bank - and another is Canadian company Nova Chemicals.

A full title sponsorship is then likely for 2012 and beyond, probably resulting in a wholesale livery change for Faenza based Toro Rosso.