Italy · est. 2006
Faenza's Red Bull driver-development team, 2006–2019.
Forthcoming lots
1 forthcoming lot · Monterey 2026
The house
Red Bull completed its purchase of Paul Stoddart's Minardi team on 31 October 2005. The Faenza-based operation made its Formula 1 debut in 2006 as Scuderia Toro Rosso; its initially announced name, Squadra Toro Rosso, was changed because squadra was more closely associated with football teams. Franz Tost, previously operations manager of BMW's Formula 1 programme, became team principal.
The 2006 STR1 was closely based on Red Bull Racing's RB1 and used a 3.0-litre Cosworth V10 subject to rev and air-intake restrictions. Toro Rosso switched to Ferrari power for 2007. Formula 1 describes the first four Toro Rosso cars as closely related to those of the parent squad; rule changes then required the Faenza operation to become a constructor in its own right, with the STR5 its first entirely in-house design and production. Gerhard Berger acquired a 50 percent stake in February 2006, which Red Bull agreed to reacquire in November 2008.
At Monza on 14 September 2008, Sebastian Vettel took pole and won the Italian Grand Prix in a Toro Rosso-Ferrari. He completed 53 laps and finished 12.512 seconds ahead of Heikki Kovalainen; the win remains Toro Rosso's only Formula 1 victory under that entrant name. Toro Rosso finished sixth in the 2008 constructors' standings on 39 points, ahead of Red Bull Racing's 29, before Vettel moved to Red Bull Racing for 2009.
Toro Rosso's final season, 2019, produced two podiums: Daniil Kvyat was third in Germany and Pierre Gasly second in Brazil. The team finished sixth with 85 points. Its last Grand Prix under the Toro Rosso name was Abu Dhabi 2019; the FIA's provisional 2020 entry list then recorded Scuderia AlphaTauri. AlphaTauri became Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team for 2024, and Formula 1's 2026 team page lists the Faenza-based successor as Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team.
Selected milestones
2005
Minardi sold to Red Bull
Red Bull completed the purchase of Paul Stoddart's Minardi team on 31 October. The Faenza operation was entered as Scuderia Toro Rosso for 2006, with Franz Tost as team principal.
2008
Vettel wins at Monza
Vettel started from pole and won the wet Italian Grand Prix by 12.512 seconds. Toro Rosso finished sixth in the constructors' standings on 39 points, ahead of Red Bull Racing's 29.
2010
First in-house car
Formula 1's rule changes ended Toro Rosso's use of the parent team's designs. The STR5 was the first car designed and produced entirely in-house by Toro Rosso.
2019–20
Toro Rosso name retired
Toro Rosso's final Grand Prix was Abu Dhabi 2019. The FIA's provisional 2020 entry list recorded the team as Scuderia AlphaTauri, a name used to promote Red Bull's AlphaTauri fashion brand.
What defines Toro Rosso
Red Bull bought Minardi to create a proving ground for young drivers. Formula 1 identifies Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen among those who built Formula 1 experience at the Faenza team before moving to Red Bull Racing.
For its first four seasons, Toro Rosso's cars were closely related to Red Bull Racing designs. From 2010, it had to design and produce its own car, although Formula 1 regulations still allowed specified common components.
The Minardi name disappeared, but the operation stayed in Faenza. Toro Rosso raced as an Italian entrant throughout its 2006–2019 Formula 1 run.