AlphaTauri tightens its ties with Red Bull to gain in performance

AlphaTauri has tried to fly on its own since the arrival of the new regulations and the return of ground effect single-seaters, unfortunately the results do not follow and the Italian team must revise its plans to bounce back as it is experiencing a catastrophic 2023 season, last in the F1 constructors’ standings.

The upheaval didn’t start today

AlphaTauri’s future first looked very bleak. Dissatisfied with the sporting and commercial performances of its little sister, Red Bull at one time considered the option of selling it. Now excluded, as well as the complete relocation of the Faenza factory to England, the leaders of the world championship team prefer to build a « new » AlphaTauri. The team will thus remain the junior entity of Red Bull and will tighten its ties with it.

If the main factory remains in Italy, the aerospace department will move to Milton Keynes, directly into the Red Bull factory. This will also provide more parts to the smaller Scuderia. This cooperation is causing a stir and some rumors even suggest that the team, led next year by Laurent Mekies, is developing a clone of the RB19.

An idea denied by AlphaTauri’s Technical Director, Jody Egginton, who asserts that the 2024 single-seater will not copy the Red Bull any more than in previous years.

« Since we started synergy in 2019, the pieces that we have selected from the list of possibilities have been different, and for next year, they will be slightly different again, » he said. « Compared to this year, a little more. Compared to a few previous years, it’s probably about the same. »

The regulation allows to pick from the parts of old cars from other teams. The goal is therefore to exploit it to the maximum in order to buy as many parts as possible.

« So yes, we are encouraged. But it’s not really about being controlled. It’s good to know that the guys at the headquarters support us and encourage both teams to maximize what they can do within the regulatory framework. »

No decision regarding the new chassis

Well advanced in the construction of its chassis, it is not yet known to what extent this will be influenced by Red Bull. Will the parts from the Austrian team used by Faenza be old or developments? No decision has been made assures Jody Egginton.

« The chassis will be significantly different. But in terms of concept change, we know which direction we are headed. We are reasonably aligned with the direction taken by the other teams. We just need to manage to achieve these objectives. »