Toro Rosso F1 Team For Sale
Red Bull Boss Puts Junior Formula 1 Team On Market
2010 rule change has consequences for Toro Rosso and Super Aguri. Red Bull look to offload their junior team
The Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team has been put up for sale by owners Dietrich Mateschitz and Gerhard Berger. Mateschitz is the founder of the Red Bull energy drink company and owns the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team. For the past two seasons he has used Toro Rosso as a training ground for young drivers.
The reason for the proposed sale is a change to the rules regarding customer cars, due to come into effect in 2010. Toro Rosso has relied heavily on its parent Red Bull team for designs and technology. Under the new rules this will not be allowed. Teams will have to operate as independent constructors. Despite the Toro Rosso cars being manufactured by a company called Red Bull Technologies, as opposed to Red Bull Racing, it is not enough to meet the new guidelines.
Mateschitz confirmed his intentions during an interview with the Swiss magazine Motorsport Aktuell:
"By 2010 the rules will have changed - there can no longer be a relationship between Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso, in terms of design and construction."
Toro Rosso came into existence after Mateschitz purchased the Minardi team from owner Paul Stoddart in 2005. In their short career the team has caused considerable controversy. Despite a rule specifying that only V8 engines could be used, Toro Rosso were allowed to compete using rev-limited V10s, despite complaints from their nearest rivals.
The team has enjoyed a promising start to the 2008 season. In Australia Sebastien Bourdais scored two points on his debut. Although his team-mate Sebastian Vettel was eliminated in an accident he is undoubtedly one of the most promising young talents currently in Formula 1.
The new rule could also have major consequences for the Super Aguri team who currently have a close relationship with the Honda Formula 1 team. It was doubtful whether the team would even make it to the grid for the opening race of the 2008 season in Australia due to financial problems. In the future they may need a considerably larger budget if they wish to stay in the sport. For 2010 they will have to be seen to producing their own unique cars.
It is highly probable that, by 2010, Formula will consist only of major manufacturers. In the past customer cars were a common sight in Grand Prix racing. Ironically it was FIA president Max Mosley who was a co-founder of one of the biggest constructors of customer cars, March. Beginning in 1970 the March company flooded Formula 1 grids with their easily available cars. This latest rule change could very well signal the end of the road for the smaller constructors who were once commonplace in Formula 1.
