Tost retains for Red Bull family: 'That's what he will do'

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was Franz Tost's last as team boss in Formula 1. After 18 years, the 67-year-old Austrian is quitting, but he is not leaving the Red Bull family altogether. Helmut Marko revealed that the day after the last race of the season.

"He will do standby consultancy for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. If we or the people at AlphaTauri need him, they can contact him," Marko reveals to German Auto Bild.

So there is no question of permanent employment. "He is otherwise free to do anything, as long as it does not clash with our Formula 1 interests. After 18 years, he deserves to finally be able to practise his beloved ski sport as a Tyrolean."

Compliments for Tost

Finally, Marko has nothing but praise for his compatriot, who with Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel trained two multiple world champions at the then Scuderia Toro Rosso. "The special thing about him is that two world champions were apprenticed to him. His training was so good that at Red Bull Racing they were able to compete for the title immediately. That is a huge credit to him," he concludes his story.

Tost ended his career as team boss with an eighth-place finish in the constructors' world championship. AlphaTauri looked set to seize seventh place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but ultimately fell three points short of passing Williams.