The Toro Rosso name will vanish from F1 in 2020, with the team changing to become known as AlphaTauri

Photo: Motorsport Images

Toro Rosso will be known as Scuderia AlphaTauri from the 2020 Formula 1 season onwards after the team’s request to change its name was approved.

Earlier this season, Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko confirmed that a request had been lodged with the FIA and Liberty Media to change entry names for next season.

The name change was unanimously approved for 2020 by the F1 commission via electronic vote after the Russian Grand Prix.

AlphaTauri will replace the existing Toro Rosso name the team has held since Red Bull took over the Minardi team in 2005.

Founded in 2016, AlphaTauri is Red Bull’s fashion brand, extending the reach of the energy drinks company.

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Since its first race in Formula 1 the following season, Toro Rosso has served as the feeder team for Red Bull, with young talent from its junior driver programme selected for a race seat ahead of a potential promotion to the senior outfit.

It has seen a plethora of drivers come and go; with Sebastian Vettel its best import thus far having won four world championships with the main Red Bull team after time at Toro Rosso.

The team has also become a testbed for Red Bull in recent seasons during the hybrid power unit era.

The Honda union between the teams was decided upon after Toro Rosso used the Japanese manufacturer’s power units in 2018 as Red Bull analysed its performance versus Renault.

Although the number one driver at Red Bull is very much established as being Max Verstappen for the foreseeable future, his team-mate for next season – and by extension, the AlphaTauri drivers for 2020 – remains unknown.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the team is yet to decide who will be remaining at the junior team for next season, with a decision set to be made between Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly.