Toro Rosso has officially been rebranded as AlphaTauri with the launch of the AT01 on Friday.
The junior Red Bull team, which has been part of Formula 1 since 2006, has taken the name of the Austrian company’s fast-growing clothing brand.
And the new-look black and white machine certainly won the style points in a launch taking place at the famous Hangar 7 in Salzburg.
AlphaTauri have retained Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat for the first season under their new identity.
For Gasly, 2020 is a chance to once again prove himself worthy of another Red Bull opportunity after his first ended so disappointingly after 13 races last year.
Already, the Frenchman has done a lot to repair his reputation since returning to the Faenza-based outfit from the Belgian Grand Prix, including securing a first career podium in dramatic fashion in Brazil.
Teammate Kvyat also tasted the champagne at Hockenheim in 2019, and the Russian will embark on his sixth season on the grid with the same goal as Gasly after making his comeback to the Red Bull fold last year.
As for expectations, Toro Rosso were regular points contenders but often haven’t had the consistency to challenge for ‘best of the rest’ in the Constructors’ Championship.
But now, with a closer partnership to the senior Red Bull team, AlphaTauri could be well-placed to finish in the top six but the midfield battle will be as tight as ever.
