AlphaTauri’s Franz Tost Transitions to Red Bull as Stand-By Consultant: A New Chapter in F1

Franz Tost, the longstanding team principal of AlphaTauri, has ended his tenure to join Red Bull Racing in a new consulting role, as confirmed by Dr Helmut Marko. This marks a significant shift in Tost’s career, leading him towards a semi-retirement phase.

Key Takeaways:

• Franz Tost, having led AlphaTauri since 2006, leaves his role as team principal to join Red Bull Racing as a “stand-by consultant” until 2025. This move is part of his journey towards semi-retirement.
• Tost’s tenure at AlphaTauri (previously Toro Rosso) was notable for nurturing talents like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel, alongside others who have made their mark in Formula 1.
• Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, praised Tost’s contribution to the team, highlighting his role in training World Champions and his long-standing commitment to motorsport.

Franz Tost, the team principal who has been the backbone of AlphaTauri’s operations since its inception, is set to embark on a new chapter with Red Bull Racing. His transition to a “stand-by consultant” role until the end of 2025 was recently confirmed by Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor. This move represents a significant change for Tost, taking him towards a well-deserved semi-retirement.

Under Tost’s guidance, AlphaTauri, formerly known as Toro Rosso, has been a crucible for emerging talents in the Formula 1 world. His leadership saw the development of remarkable drivers like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel, both of whom have achieved tremendous success with Red Bull. Other notable drivers, including Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and Yuki Tsunoda, owe their Formula 1 beginnings to Tost’s discerning eye for talent.

Dr. Marko, in his discussion with Sky Germany, shed light on Tost’s new role. He explained, “He will be doing stand-by consulting for the years 2024 and 2025. If we or the people at AlphaTauri need him, they can contact him. But he is free to do anything else that doesn’t clash with Formula 1. After 18 years, he deserves to finally be able to pursue his beloved sport of skiing as a Tyrolean.” This statement underscores the respect and appreciation Marko holds for Tost’s dedication and contributions to the sport.

Further accentuating Tost’s impact, Marko remarked, “He is a hard bone with a soft centre. It hurts, it wasn’t just the 18 years with us, he was in motorsport with many others before that. The extraordinary thing about him is that the two World Champions we brought in went to school with him. The training was so good that they were immediately able to fight for the title at Red Bull Racing. That is a huge credit to him.” This tribute speaks volumes of Tost’s influence in shaping champions and his enduring legacy in Formula 1.

As Tost steps into his new role and Verstappen continues to dominate the tracks, the F1 community watches keenly. What new heights will Verstappen achieve, and how will Tost’s wisdom influence Red Bull’s future endeavors? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Tost’s legacy in Formula 1 will be remembered for years to come.