Formula 1 team set for another name change in 2024

Scuderia AlphaTauri will no longer compete as AlphaTauri during the 2024 Formula 1 season, with another name change set for the Red Bull sister team.

What began as the Minardi Formula 1 team back in 1985 evolved into Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006, when the organization became the junior team for Red Bull.

Paul Stoddart sold his remaining interest in the Minardi team at the end of 2005 to Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz. Red Bull had officially entered Formula 1 in 2005.

Scuderia Toro Rosso literally translates to Red Bull Racing Team. In fact, in 2018 and 2019, the team officially operated as Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda.

But ahead of the 2020 Formula 1 season, the team’s name was changed to Scuderia AlphaTauri.

AlphaTauri, which itself serves as a brand extension of Red Bull into the fashion industry, is the sister team to Red Bull as opposed to the junior team. But after just four seasons, the team name is set to change again at the end of the 2023 campaign.

With Franz Tost, who has been at the helm since Minardi became Toro Rosso, set to step down as team principal at the end of the year, Laurent Mekies is set to take over. Markies is currently Ferrari’s sporting director. Former FIA executive Peter Bayer is set to join the team as chief executive.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko confirmed that the leadership changes will also accompany both a name change and sponsorship changes.

"“AlphaTauri will have two new leaders in 2024, Laurent Mekies and Peter Bayer. There will be new sponsors and a new name.”"

Whether or not the Toro Rosso name returns or the name AlphaTauri is replaced by a team name that hasn’t yet been used remains to be seen.

Yuki Tsunoda is currently in his third season with the team while Nyck de Vries is in his rookie year. Neither driver has a contract which extends beyond the 2023 season. The team sit last of 10 teams in the constructor standings through the first eight races of the 22-race calendar.