Franz Tost, team principal of AlphaTauri, has stated that a return to the Toro Rosso name is unlikely for the team next season. The statement comes as part of wider changes planned for AlphaTauri in 2024, aimed at bringing the team closer to Red Bull and improving its competitiveness.
Tost hinted that financial considerations play a role in the team’s decision-making process, with the team exploring opportunities for attracting new sponsors and potentially securing a title sponsor. However, he did not provide specific details about the upcoming changes, as negotiations are still ongoing.
While Tost will retire at the end of the season, he mentioned that talks with potential sponsors are taking place and there is significant interest in partnering with AlphaTauri. However, no agreements have been finalized yet, and it may take several months before any official announcements are made.
When asked about the possibility of returning to the Toro Rosso name, under which the team competed for 14 seasons in Formula 1, Tost indicated that it is unlikely. He suggested that there are other opportunities to generate additional funding for the team.
The changes planned for AlphaTauri include some of its operations moving to the UK to establish closer ties with Red Bull. The goal is to align the two teams as much as possible and improve performance moving forward.
Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri driver, jokingly proposed the idea of racing under the name “Team Yuki” for the next season. He expressed optimism about the upcoming changes and the positive impact they could have on the Faenza-based team.
As AlphaTauri prepares for the future, the focus is on securing new sponsors, strengthening the team’s financial position, and improving competitiveness on the Formula 1 grid.
