Franz Tost, who is leading AlphaTauri for his last Grand Prix, considers Jean-Eric Vergne to be his biggest regret
After 18 years at the helm of the Red Bull junior team, Franz Tost will leave Formula 1 at the end of 2023 to retire. He will hand over the reins of the AlphaTauri team to Peter Bayer and Laurent Mekies, marking a new era for the Red Bull junior team.
Under Franz Tost’s supervision, AlphaTauri will have achieved the feat of winning two Grand Prix, both at Monza. The first in 2008, with a certain Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel, and the second in 2020, with the young French driver, Pierre Gasly.
Interviewed on Canal +, the principal of AlphaTauri team reflects on his collaborations with French drivers under his command. « I loved working with these French drivers. We even had success with one of them, Pierre Gasly at Monza.
He thinks back in particular to the first French driver he had under his command in the early years of Toro Rosso in Formula 1. « I also had a great time with Sébastien Bourdais. We had a little less luck with him, since Sebastian Vettel was his teammate, but overall, he did a good job ».
The Austrian director also did not forget Jean-Éric Vergne, for whom he hoped for better results in Formula 1, and to whom he recognized impressive qualities. « Vergne too, a high-level driver with natural speed and incredible talent. »
I would have liked him to stay longer in Formula 1 because he could have had a good career. He was really fast. He actually showed it in Formula E and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Franz Tost will therefore leave the world of F1 this Sunday, after 18 seasons at the helm of AlphaTauri.
