Seasons in Formula 1: 16 Races contested: 307 Drivers championships: 0 Constructors championships: 0 Number of wins: 2 Number of pole positions: 1 Number of fastest laps: 2 Number of points: 749 2021 – number of wins: 0 2021 – number of poles: 0 2021 – number of fastest laps: 1 2021 – points: 142 2021 – position: 6
BIOGRAPHY
In 2020, on February 14, St Valentine’s Day and the day of the unveiling of its latest contender, Scuderia Toro Rosso, formerly Minardi, becomes Scuderia AlphaTauri.
AlphaTauri is the stand-alone fashion brand founded by Red Bull, which, according to the publicity blurb, “is establishing a new way in the clothing industry that intersects fashion and function.
“It blends considered design and premium materials with textile innovations,” claims the press release. “After 15 years, the time has come therefore to bid a fond farewell to Scuderia Toro Rosso and welcome in its place Scuderia AlphaTauri which will share its predecessor’s vision, skill and passion for the sport.
AlphaTauri is challenging the status-quo, just like a Formula 1 car, which in turn, with its advanced technologies and sculpted aerodynamics, is itself a thing of beauty; the beauty of speed.
Toro Rosso started out as a very small team and over the years became an established player, giving many of its stars their start in the sport. The name change is another key milestone in the global rollout strategy of Red Bull’s fashion brand, which, again according to the blurb, fuses fashion and function and will now embrace the Formula 1 world of innovation.
Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat are both retained, and while it is expected that Honda will take another step forward, so too Kvyat and Gasly must continue to perform.
The mid-season driver swap was clear proof – as if it were needed – that Helmut Marko is always watching – and in that respect Kvyat, in particular, cannot afford to slip back.