The team formerly known as Toro Rosso revealed their rebrand in surprising fashion
If Renault instigated their 2020 season with an anti-launch, Alpha Tauri borrowed the excitement from the French team’s launch and concocted a dramatic launch to rival Ferrari in OTT-ness. That was the first fashion show I think I’ve seen and while there weren’t any dramatic numbers on show, I wasn’t exactly falling asleep either. Yes, I can see the arguments against the nature of the launch, but it wasn’t exactly the worst one going (*cough* Mercedes). It did take a long while to get going, but it certainly brought back the big launch feel to F1, like with Ferrari before it. Peak 90s and 00s pre season. Another thing I liked, is the fact that the teamwear was given catwalk time. I can imagine as an Alpha Tauri fan you’d be hyped to see that given billing next to the launch, and even I’ll admit some of the stuff they had designed was quite smart.
Moving onto the car, what a treat! Teasing the car in black with either the honeycomb design or a liquidy, bubbly effect as they did in the video had me thinking the whole event was going to be the biggest let down since my A-level chemistry results. It was when Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat walked out in white and Alpha Tauri deep blue romper suits when my appetite was re-wetted as it were. Then the livery itself ugh *chef’s kiss*, definitely the runaway favourite for best newcomer on the grid this year, unless Renault turn up with something ground-breaking for Melbourne. There’s a lot of talk about how slimline the 2020 cars are and how it has led to a reintroduction of large designs over the engine cover, and Alpha Tauri have exploited that to the full. Ironic that Williams, who’ve ran white liveries since 2014, have only just come up with a respectable effort now, whereas Alpha Tauri pretty much nail it in their first. I’m interested in where they take it in the future; hopefully with the rebrand distancing themselves a little further away from Red Bull, there might be some more free reign with what they can do. Obviously, Alpha Tauri still very much a Red Bull brand and the feeder team to its main F1 team.
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Any predictors of Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat being in these seats for 2020 must either be astrologists or liars, or both. I mean before the 2019 season you could look at Pierre Gasly and suggest ‘oh Red Bull might fire him because it’s Red Bull’ and to be honest the promise he showed in 2018 should’ve maybe bought him more time. Then again there could be argument that a full season of Albon might’ve earned Red Bull 3rd place, but I digress. The form that Pierre showed since his demotion to Toro Rosso has been the form that was putting him in the Red Bull seat to begin with, and he was rightly rewarded with a podium in Brazil. Opportune yes, but Pierre showed a deft touch under pressure to keep 2nd place away from Lewis Hamilton before his penalty was awarded. Considering the pressure he was under at the time by the Red Bull big wigs and the media too, makes it more of an achievement. Those primal screams akin to Senna at the same circuit nearly 30 years ago, still ring in my ears today.
Also under the circumstances, Daniil Kvyat had a solid season, and while the lack of upcoming talent in the junior programme works in his favour, showed that the Russian deserves another couple of seasons in that seat, barring any calamities. Only rarely did I have to bring out the torpedo gifs on Twitter in 2019 – was it only once or twice? Maybe we should change his nickname to the Resurrected Russian? Who knows, if Albon pulls a Gasly, he might be next in line for the shot at the big time? Ballsy call for sure, but it wouldn’t be the first time Red Bull have done a U-turn on their drivers. Consistent points for Daniil this year and it might just happen.
As ever, you’d be a fool to predict the midfield this year. Toro Rosso certainly put in some very strong performances last year including a couple of podiums. Can we expect the same strides as we expect Renault and McLaren to make this year? No. Can we expect to see more solid, consistent point scoring? It’s not out of the question. Franz Tost was talking his team up at the launch, but I’m sure if you offered him 6th place now, he’d gladly take it. If they want to make gains then 2021 is the only realistic method of doing so, but who knows? Honda might well just pull out another big performance step and make them a very good package for 2020.
George Talks 