Rumours of AlphaTauri being sold by Red Bull have “no foundation”, team boss Franz Tost has stated.
Last weekend, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reported the future of the Faenza-based outfit was uncertain after a review by Red Bull’s new hierarchy found their second Formula 1 team was no longer cost-effective.
As a result, two options were being considered, either relocate the AlphaTauri operation to England or sell the team it bought back in late 2005.
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko didn’t deny the possibility when asked by Sky Germany, claiming it would be up to Red Bull’s shareholders to decide on any potential sale.
But on Wednesday, Tost issued a statement insisting AlphaTauri was not on the market.
“I had some very good meetings with Oliver Mintzlaff (Red Bull managing director), who confirmed that the shareholders will not sell Scuderia AlphaTauri and that Red Bull will continue supporting the team in the future,” it read.
“All these rumours have no foundation, and the team has to remain focused for the start of the season to perform better than last year.”
Despite a positive first two seasons since being rebranded in 2020, AlphaTauri had a miserable season in 2022, finishing ninth in the Constructors’ Championship.
It is this and the lack of commercial benefit in raising the profile of Red Bull’s fashion brand that has led to the new speculation of a sale.
In their report, Auto Motor und Sport claimed there were three potentially interested parties in buying the team, including Andretti, who is working on their own entry with Cadillac potentially from 2025.