Marko addresses AlphaTauri sale rumors, performance shortfall

Helmut Marko conceded that Red Bull are not happy with AlphaTauri's results, but insisted that any potential changes – including an outright sale of the team – will be decided by the energy drink company's shareholders.

On Saturday, Auto Motor und Sport reported that Red Bull's new executives who have succeeded the late Dietrich Mateschitz at the helm of the company are no longer happy with Red Bull's investment in AlphaTauri due to the team's poor results.

Red Bull is allegedly now considering either a sale of the team or its relocation from Faenza to the United Kingdom to improve synergies with Red Bull Racing and bring down costs.

There is no denying AlphaTauri's underperformance in 2022. The team that serves in part as a training ground for Red Bull's young drivers concluded last year's campaign a lowly P9 in F1's Constructors' standings.

Queried on the rumors that emerged on Saturday in Bahrain, Marko pushed back on the hearsay but acknowledged that AlphaTauri was under scrutiny.

Read also: Red Bull reportedly considering sale of AlphaTauri!

"We don’t generally comment on rumours," he told Sky.

"[But] it’s also understandable AlphaTauri cannot be satisfied with what it achieved last year, ninth place in the constructors’ championship. But such a decision rests entirely with the shareholders.

"If the team doesn’t perform properly, then it doesn’t help either."

©AlphaTauri

AlphaTauri uses the same Honda-based power unit that power Red Bull, and the team relies on Red Bull's transferable parts list, although this year's AT04 actually uses more components designed in-house at Faenza.

But AlphaTauri's current synergies with Red Bull Racing are not proving efficient enough in terms of lowering costs.

"You think about how to increase efficiency," added Marko. "And when you have one team that wins the world championship and the other is just about ninth place, these synergies just don’t seem to work properly."

"The overall result is not satisfactory," admitted Red Bull's motorsport boss. "As proper business people our shareholders will make the right decision."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.