- Cost of running AlphaTauri is now more than Red Bull
- F1 teams looking to increase entry fee to at least US$600m
- Andretti, HitechGP and Mumbai Racing linked with purchase
Red Bull could look to sell AlphaTauri if the Formula One team is unable to relocate to the UK due to rising costs, according to a report by Auto Motor und Sport (AMuS).
Based in Faenza, Italy, the team has competed in the sport since 2006, initially under the name Toro Rosso. However, with Formula One's budget cap now in place, parent company Red Bull can no longer divert funds to AlphaTauri.
It is reported that it now costs more money to run the Faenza-based outfit than the full Red Bull Formula One team and, with Oliver Mintzlaff now leading the sports division at Red Bull, the energy drinks company is now weighing up its options.
With the aerodynamic base for the team also being in Bicester in the UK, the whole operation is proving inefficient. There have also been reports that several branches of the AlphaTauri store – Red Bull's fashion brand – have closed, adding more financial pressure to the situation.
Giving such prominent branding to PKN Orlen as part of the oil brand's multi-year contract with AlphaTauri was another sign of increasing financial concerns around the team, which has historically been leveraged to promote brands from within the Red Bull group.
AMuS also reports that AlphaTauri's ninth-placed finish in last season's constructors' championship gives the team around US$100 million less than the title-winning Red Bull outfit. If AlphaTauri are unable to relocate to the UK, then AMuS says the only option left would be to sell the team.
With Motorsport.com reporting that current Formula One teams are looking to raise the anti-dilution entry fee from US$200 million to a minimum of US$600 million, AlphaTauri being put up for sale becomes an intriguing option for interested parties.
The names reported to be interested are Andretti Autosport, who have made their desire to enter the sport clear, as well as current Formula Two team HitechGP and an Indian billionaire who owns the Mumbai Falcons Racing Team.
According to AMuS, HitechGP is the current frontrunner due to its close links to the Red Bull academy programme, having run numerous Red Bull junior drivers in Formula Two.
Another name looking for a way back into Formula One is Honda, but whether it would be committed to running a full factory outfit remains to be seen.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport advisor, refused to be drawn on too much detail on the matter, but suggested that the final decision on the team will come down to shareholders.
“In general, we don't comment on rumours,” he told Motorsport.com. “It's understandable that AlphaTauri can't be satisfied with what it achieved last year – ninth place in the constructors' championship. But such a decision is entirely up to the shareholders. These are rumours that we do not comment on in detail.
“You think about how you can increase efficiency. If you have a team that wins the world championship and the other one is only around ninth place, the synergies don't seem to work properly. The overall result is not satisfactory. As proper business people, our shareholders will make the right decision.”