Red Bull’s request to rename Scuderia Toro Rosso as Scuderia Alpha Tauri for 2020 has been approved.
The proposed change had already been given the go-ahead by Formula 1 bosses but still required the unanimous support of teams, which was granted via an e-vote after the Russian GP.
It’s a move which sees the end of the Toro Rosso name after 14 seasons on the grid, with Red Bull bought fabled underdogs Minardi in 2006.
In that time, it has developed into the launchpad for the company’s young drivers to make their name in F1 with a select few, Sebastian Vettel, Daniil Kvyat, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, all going on to join the senior team.
Yet, Vettel’s victory at Monza in 2008 actually meant Toro Rosso won its first race before Red Bull did, with the German also claiming that honour the following year in China.
As for the new name, Alpha Tauri is Red Bull’s emerging fashion brand which was first launched two years ago.
No doubt it will take some time for the new name to stick, in much the same way even most other drivers still call Racing Point by their old name Force India.
And the likely confusion between Alpha Tauri and Alfa Romeo also gone unnoticed!