Franz Tost

Franz Tost is an Austrian former racing driver who served as the Team Principal of the Scuderia AlphaTauri Formula One team until the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship.

Franz Tost was born on January 20, 1956, in Trins, Austria, not too far from Merano, Italy, where the Haas Formula One Team Principal Guenther Steiner was born nine years later. Tost aspired to be involved in motorsport since he was young.

Tost first wanted to be a racing driver, and he competed in Formula Ford as well as Formula Three. He won the Austrian Formula Ford Championship in 1983; however, he felt he was not skilled enough and made a decision to study Sport Science and Management.

After finishing his studies at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna, he naturally joined Walter Lechner Racing School as a team manager. In 1993, Tost transitioned to the Willi Weber, where he met young Ralf Schumacher - younger brother of the seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher.

He accompanied Ralf Schumacher until 2000, when Schumacher joined the Williams Formula One team. Tost then went on to work as Track Operations Manager for the engine supplier of the Williams team - BMW.

Franz Tost was appointed as the Team Principal of Scuderia Scuderia Toro Rosso (now known as AlphaTauri F1 team) following the acquisition and rebranding of the Minardi team by Red Bull. Tost stated he would aim to achieve fifth place in the Constructor’s Championship.

He went on to achieve sixth place in season 2008 with drivers Sebastian Vettel and Sébastien Bourdais. During the same year, Toro Rosso also achieved its first-ever win during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza Circuit with Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel.

Toro Rosso used to serve as a junior team for Red Bull Racing, where young drivers with great talent and potential got a chance to develop their skills. Consequently, Franz Tost has been part of developing drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr., Pierre Gasly, and Alexander Albon.

Scuderia Toro Rosso was rebranded to Scuderia AlphaTauri ahead of the start of the 2020 season Franz Tost retained his position as the Team Principal. He is one of the longest-serving team principals of all time in Formula One.

On April 26, 2023, Alpha Tauri announced Franz Tost would be departing the team after the 2023 season. Tost has spent a total of 18 years in his role as the team principal at Scuderia Toro Rosso / Scuderia AlphaTauri.