Squadra toro rosso

Starting March 12, 2006, Formula 1 fans will be getting a taste of Red Bull in Italian: in Bahrain the new Squadra Toro Rosso is heading into its first season as the second team owned by the Red Bull company.

The decision to take over the former Minardi team came at Spa during the Belgian Grand Prix, making the real birthday of the new Squadra November 1, 2005. On that date the takeover became official and at the same time the first personnel decision was made: 49-year-old Austrian Franz Tost will spearhead the team.

Tost has lots of motorsport experience and Formula 1 know-how to contribute to the new team: he was formerly a driver for Formula Ford and Formula 3 and, among his other jobs, manager at the Walter Lechner Racing School before moving in 1993 to the team of Willi Weber. He was the driving force behind Ralf Schumacher’s career in Japan, advancing with his protégé to Formula 1. Since June 2000 Tost has been track operation manager at BMW Motorsport.

In accordance with the regulations, the Squadra Toro Rosso operates completely independently of Red Bull Racing and is also in a somewhat different position: it sees itself as a rookie team that will primarily provide opportunities for the up-and-coming talent from the Red Bull Junior Team to rise into the ranks of Formula 1.

The question of the 2006 cockpit occupants for the team based at Faenza, Italy is still open as is the name of the tire supplier. The Squadra Toro Rosso’s cars are powered by a Cosworth V10 engine.