Formula 1
Toro Rosso team put on the market
Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One team co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz has confirmed that the team is up for sale. The new F1 concord agreement includes changes to the sports regulations. For the 2010 season onwards new rules stipulate that Red bull ...
Published: Mar 22, 2008, 5:38 PM
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Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One team co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz has confirmed that the team is up for sale.
The new F1 concord agreement includes changes to the sports regulations. For the 2010 season onwards new rules stipulate that Red bull will no longer be able to supply their second team with cars designed and constructed by Red Bull's team in Milton Keynes.
Franz Tost, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Team Principal, Gerhard Berger, Scuderia Toro Rosso, 50% Team Co Owner.
Photo by xpb.cc.
"It is not a big secret that we've put Toro Rosso on the market," Mateschitz said. "I see the necessity that we continue with one team only for 2010 but we will not sell Toro Rosso during 2008."
In light of the new regulations, Mateschitz speaking to Motorsport Aktuell magazine believes that there is now no need to run two teams.
"We will only sell the team if it is put into safe hands But it will be. "before 2010," added the Austrian billionaire .
Scuderia Toro Rosso is co-owned by former F1 driver Gerhard Berger. Speaking at the teams press conference in Malaysia on Thursday (19th March 2008), he did not wait to be asked about the sale instead choosing to tackle the issue head on: "I regret Didi's decision but I understand it.
"When we bought Minardi at the end of '05 it was the intention of taking the team from the back to the middle of the grid. He would look after the finances and I would look after the racing."
Berger continued, "Our concept was clear: to use Red Bull Technology to build the cars which fitted in totally with the rules as they stood. But it did not please everyone in the paddock.
"So the new rules to be introduced in 2010 now mean that there is no reason for Red Bull to support a second team. I am very disappointed because Red Bull is a great partner and I really need it, but if Didi does not want to continue, I have to see how to continue."
Berger, one of the most experienced F1 racing drivers of all time with 210 grand prix starts, is determined to stay at Scuderia Toro Rosso and carry on the good work he has been doing:
"I would like to reach the goals we set ourselves, he commented. "I don't know if its possible but I love a fight and I am not interested in making money out of it. My passion is racing and I want to stay in F1 with the team and I will stay as long as I can give the people here the means to progress.
"In his interview, Didi insists he will only pull out if the team is in good hands and I know he will keep his word. He does not make promises he cannot keep. That means, that for the time being nothing changes in the team."
The sale will not be happening anytime soon, Berger insists: "Nothing will happen in 2008 and we will see in 2009. I know these are worrying times for everyone in the team but this is the time when we have to show what we can do!"
Scuderia Toro Rosso, formally Paul Stoddart's Minardi team has competed in F1 since 1985. The team was sold by Stoddart in November 2005 after a claimed 41 approaches to buy the team. He accepted the deal with Red Bull which he considered the best opportunity for the Minardi to progress further.
The deal included a clause that the teams headquarters should remain in Faenza, situated around 50km Southeast of Bologna Italy until at least 2007.
Many of Minardi's loyal fan base were upset about the name change which was intended to mirror the squads Italian identity and also includes an engine supply deal with Ferrari.
The Australian Grand prix has already seen Scuderia Toro Rosso gaining two points courtesy of an seventh place for F1 rookie Sebastien Bourdais. A good result considering neither car actually took the checkered flag.
In other news, Stoddart's Minardi Team USA has been quiet since the unification of open-wheel racing in America. The Indy Racing League won the feud and some of the current Champ Car teams are now taking delivery of the Dallara chassis with Honda engines IndyCars. Perhaps Stoddart and Berger will have a meeting of the minds.
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