Alpha Tauri should not be distracted by the 2021 deadline

Barely theAlpha Tauri AT01 presented last night, that the specter of 2021 was emerging in the declarations of the management of the team based in Faenza.

And for good reason, 2020 will have to force the teams F1 to multiply the axes of development, between the car current and the future car having to meet largely redesigned technical regulations for the 2021 season.

A constraint which should be well absorbed without too many problems by the large structures that are Mercedes, Ferrari ou Red Bull, but which will force more modest teams, like Alpha Tauri, to pay close attention to the resources mobilized during the season.

“We will face the complex task of finding the right balance between advancing the development of this year’s car – the AT01 – and work on the next one for 2021, indicates Team Principal Franz Tost.

A year with changes, particularly regarding the technical regulations applicable to car design. This should not distract from our heavy task of studying the smallest details in each race to avoid mistakes as much as possible and seize any opportunities that may arise in such a tight mid-grid »

Alpha Tauri will also be able to count on its technical partnership with Red Bull Technology, even if certain rules have changed for 2020.

“Due to minor changes to the sporting regulations in terms of the number of components shared with another team, some parts, for example the brake lines that we were able to share last year, will have to be produced in-house now. » recalls Tost.

The collaboration with Red Bull and Honda will, however, allow Alpha Tauri to benefit from the progress made by the duo last year. “We had to adapt the 2019 Red Bull rear end to our chassis, but it's part of the game every year, whether it's a new part or something inherited from another team, mentions Jody Egginton, technical director of Alpha Tauri.

It's a small detail, but the gearbox had to be re-homologated due to the modifications made to the Power Unit. The front suspension inner section and uprights also come from last year's Red Bull, while the suspension components and associated mounts are designed and manufactured by AlphaTauri. »