Franz Tost will step down as AlphaTauri Team Principal at end of 2023 season, as part of a management revamp.
Confirmation of Tost’s departure at end of season comes as part of a new senior management structure ‘aimed at securing long-term stability and ensuring continuity,’ in which ex FIA Executive, Peter Bayer will join as Chief Executive Officer later in the season.
Tost will be replaced by Ferrari Sporting Director, Laurent Mekies as Team Principal ahead of next season, having been at the helm since the team debuted as Toro Rosso in 2005 and led the team to victories under both brand names at Italian Grand Prix in 2008 and 2020 respectively.
Speaking about his departure, Tost thanked the late Dietrich Mateschitz for giving him “the incredible opportunity to be Team Principal of Scuderia Toro Rosso and Scuderia AlphaTauri for the past 18 years.”
Tost proceeded to call his role “a true privilege” under “many motivated and skilled people, who share my passion for Formula 1.”
Paying tribute to Bayer and Mekies, Tost described the pair as “very professional people, who will bring the Team to the next level.”
Mekies in turn praised Tost for delivering a “great job” over 18 years and wished him well for his future, whilst iterating that with Tost becoming a consultant at the team next season, both he and Bayer will seek out Tost’s “input and advice in times to come.”
On what it means to succeed Tost as Team Principal, Mekies commented: “Looking forward, I am honoured to take on the role of Team Principal and to return to the Team where I spent a large portion of my early career.
“Scuderia AlphaTauri has all of the ingredients necessary for greater success in the future and in tandem with Peter I’m looking forward to making that happen.”
Bayer added his praise of Tost for “dedication” to the team as well as “commitment to developing young talent has resulted in a Formula 1 grid where 25% of the drivers have benefited from his guidance.”
Under Tost, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen have since graduated to Red Bull where they won four and two titles respectively, whilst Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz have become Grand Prix winners – of which only Vettel and Gasly have won races for the team under Tost.