Horner insists AlphaTauri no longer Red Bull's junior team

Christian Horner has declared AlphaTauri is now the sister team to Red Bull, moving away from its previously seen junior status.

Since the team once known as Toro Rosso arrived into Formula 1 in 2006, a year after Red Bull made its debut, the latter has always carried senior status.

Insisting that "AlphaTauri is now a sister team rather than a junior team", the remark was initially made in reference to Pierre Gasly.

Horner claims the Frenchman should not view being retained by his current employer as a sign he is being held back from any kind of promotion.

Horner believes AlphaTauri has now evolved beyond where Toro Rosso was once viewed, and with more equal opportunities looming given the arrival of the budget cap from next year, and wide-sweeping regulations from 2022.

In addition, Horner said: "Obviously, AlphaTauri is a rebranded team for this year. I think their aspirations are beyond where Toro Rosso’s were.

"We have a synergy project within the regulations that we’re allowed so, for example, the sharing of the wind tunnel will happen for the first time next year, which makes complete sense from a financial perspective."

Red Bull's wind tunnel is a 60% model, compared to the 50% version currently being used by AlphaTauri, which will naturally prove an advantage for 2022 especially.

"The tools that we’re using, the model size, AlphaTauri will be utilising the same equipment, the same tunnel," added Horner.

"Of course, hopefully, that will be helpful for them in their development, particularly with the 2022 car being such a significant regulation change.

"So I think the regulations are now clear, the grey zones have been taken out in terms of what is and isn’t allowed and hopefully AlphaTauri will certainly benefit from that."

Before you go...

Becoming Williams team principal "secondary" for 'surprised' Roberts

$200m entry fee ensures F1 remains "special" - Wolff

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari F1 boss branded 'Napoleon' who has an 'allergy to Maranello'

• 16 minutes ago

Aston Martin shock revealed as Brundle calls for F1 star to be axed - Fernando Alonso F1 future RECAP

• 1 hour ago

F1 News Today: Hamilton escapes, Mercedes masterplan and Verstappen Le Mans statement

• 2 hours ago

Ferrari F1 star Charles Leclerc announces new plans: "I spoke about it with my manager"

• 2 hours ago

Max Verstappen hails Lando Norris for helping fix huge F1 problem

• Today 13:59

F1 icon hammers Ferrari star for treating F1 like a 'picnic'

• Today 12:28