According to the latest speculation in Italy, there may be more than meets the eye to Takuma Sato's Toro Rosso evaluation test later this month.

In a statement released by the Faenza based team this week, Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost lauded the 31-year-old Japanese as a "good fit with the Red Bull spirit", while Sato's "recent F1 experience would be undoubtedly valuable to our team".

But according to the Italian rumours, repeated in the pages of Switzerland's Motorsport Aktuell, Toro Rosso may also be interested in Sato's connections with the Japanese manufacturer Honda.

Sato, who since 2002 has raced for Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri, has always been powered in formula one by the marque's engines.

The Toro Rosso-Honda rumour is surprising, given the Red Bull junior team's impressive recent performances with Ferrari's customer V8.

On the other hand, perhaps it will open the door for senior team Red Bull Racing, currently struggling with Renault power, to take over Toro Rosso's Ferrari contract.

Source: GMM