Franz Tost, a familiar face in the Formula 1 world, is set to embark on a new chapter in his illustrious career. At 67, Tost, who has been at the helm of Alpha Tauri for an impressive tenure, is transitioning from his role as team principal to a new position as a consultant for Red Bull’s two F1 teams. This change comes as the team welcomes its new management duo, Laurent Mekies and Peter Bayer.
Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s top Formula 1 consultant, is keen on retaining Tost’s expertise and experience. Tost himself confirmed this development in a conversation with f1-insider.com. “Yes, discussions for this will take place on January 15,” he said. “After that, we’ll see how I will continue to work at Red Bull.”
Despite stepping back from the front lines, Tost’s passion for motorsport remains undimmed. He envisages a role where he can continue to contribute his vast knowledge to the sport. “Basically, I will always remain connected to motorsport, so I can certainly imagine a consulting role,” he added.
However, Tost has ruled out any possibility of combining this consulting role with television punditry. Known for his straightforward approach, he believes that such a role would require him to provide too many “political answers,” which doesn’t align with his candid style. He even compares his potential punditry approach to that of Ralf Schumacher, noting that his own style would be even more direct. “Ralf Schumacher, who does this very well, speaks too clearly for most people. And I would be even more extreme,” Tost remarked with a smile.
