Red Bull Motorsports
F1
Preparing for Scuderia AlphaTauri’s first race
July 5 will mark the first time we’ve seen F1 cars line up on the grid in 2020, but it also marks another big first: the racing debut of Scuderia AlphaTauri. Here’s what to expect.
It feels like an age since Scuderia AlphaTauri was unveiled to the world back in February, but the fashionable new team has yet to turn a wheel in anger. With two of the most talented drivers on the grid, however, and a car that's already turned heads in pre-season testing, Scuderia AlphaTauri are preparing themselves for an exciting debut season.
What you need to know about Scuderia AlphaTauri
Scuderia AlphaTauri may be the newest name on the Formula One starting grid, but the team themselves have a vast wealth of experience, having evolved from the already successful Scuderia Toro Rosso. With the same team line-up, there’s some incredible talent and knowledge from people like team principal Franz Tost, team manager Graham Watson and technical director Jody Egginton, and it’s experience like this that helped Scuderia Toro Rosso to become a race-winning outfit.
Who are the drivers?
Scuderia AlphaTauri have a formidable driving roster, with Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly providing a compelling mix of youth and experience.
Aged just 26, Kvyat actually first raced in Formula One for Toro Rosso back in 2014, alongside Jean-Éric Vergne. Following stints at Red Bull Racing and Ferrari, Kvyat is now back in the hot seat at Scuderia AlphaTauri, enjoying six point finishes and a podium from 12 races last season.
Twenty-four-year old Gasly is looking an equally good bet for 2020, making his debut for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2017 before also stepping up for a stint at Red Bull Racing. Back with the team that gave him his first seat in Formula One, Gasly impressed throughout 2019, with his best result an impressive second place at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Scuderia AlphaTauri’s AT01
© Digital Lighthouse/Red Bull Content Pool
What do Scuderia AlphaTauri’s chances look like for 2020?
With a string of strong performances and podiums behind them as Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2019, things are looking good for AlphaTauri. The drivers and team are settled, there’s a stunning new chassis in the form of the Scuderia AlphaTauri AT01 and power unit manufacturers Honda have been looking increasingly strong over the past couple of seasons.
Pierre Gasly has also been keeping race sharp over the past few weeks, turning his hand to virtual F1 and even taking part in a virtual Le Mans the same weekend, blowing away any mental cobwebs before Formula One’s return this weekend.
So expect to see a competitive performance in Austria and in the following rounds, as drivers and teams get back into the swing of racing the real thing.
