AlphaTauri unveiled the livery that will adorn the AT04 at a special event in New York at the Lincoln Center cultural complex. It was only a livery presentation, as for the Red Bull parent team.
America, America, etc.
Longtime team boss Franz Tost, Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda and newcomer Nyck de Vries, replacing Piere Gasly who left for Alpine, were all present for Saturday’s reveal, which followed the launch of the Red Bull season in the Big Apple a week ago. Coinciding with the famous New York Fashion Week, the launch represented a perfect fit for fashion brand AlphaTauri, which is owned by Red Bull and replaced Toro Rosso as the official name of the Faenza team in 2020.
As we know, Formula 1 has seen its popularity increase dramatically in recent years thanks to Netflix and social media.”commented team manager Franz Tost. “It is therefore extremely important that we continue to grow in this market and that is why I am delighted that we were able to present our 2023 livery here in New York to show our appreciation to the American public. ‘AlphaTauri was able to showcase their new collection at the event as they are selling their apparel for the first time in America.
Lots of colors, but not the Benetton way
However, the AlphaTauri livery may not be the most “stylish” in the eyes of fans. A now traditional dark blue and white color scheme can be found on this AT04 which will be powered by Honda engines running under the moniker Red Bull Powertrains. However, touches of red now complete the palette thanks to new big sponsor, Polish oilman ORLEN who have joined the team as ‘lead partner’ for 2023, having left rivals Alfa Romeo.
These touches of red can be found on the Halo, the deflectors in front of the sidepods and above the front wheels, the mirrors and the rear spoiler. From certain angles, the white, black and red assortment may initially cause some confusion with the Haas… Seen from the front, the decoration may remind some of the CART single-seaters of the early 90s.
New pilot
AlphaTauri heads into the new season looking to reverse its recent fortunes in F1, having slipped from sixth in the constructors’ standings in 2021 to ninth in 2022 when brand new technical regulations came into play. The Japanese racer Tsunoda retains his place in the team for a third consecutive season, but as for his status as presumed leader, nothing is less certain. His new team-mate, Nyck De Vries, arriving in place of Pierre Gasly, impressed during his spell at Williams in last year’s Italian Grand Prix. The 2021 Formula E champion, who was a Mercedes backup driver for a long time, will be a strong rival for the Japanese.
