MONZA CIRCUIT, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 02: Liam Lawson, AlphaTauri LL30 during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 02, 2023 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Michael Potts/BSR Agency | Getty Images)
A difficult season for AlphaTauri culminated in a rebound at the conclusion of the Formula 1 2023 schedule.
In hopes of a resurgence, AlphaTauri had been through vast in-season lineup changes during the 2023 season. Nyck de Vries was dropped from AlphaTauri after the British Grand Prix, due to his subpar performance, and Daniel Ricciardo was named as the next driver to take his place – putting further strain on Sergio Perez’s Red Bull Racing seat.
The AT04 proved to be tricky in terms of performance. However, the Red Bull sister team managed to secure eighth in the Constructors’ Standings after placing ninth in the 2022 season.
The 2023 season ended with the team’s lowest point total over the course of its four Formula 1 seasons. AlphaTauri’s dreadful start to the 2023 season was reflected in their final position, with just three points in the Constructors’ Standings. With the introduction of in-season upgrades aimed at enhancing the performance of the AT04, their pace within the straights grew more vulnerable.
Although further announcements have yet to be made, CEO Peter Bayer revealed in an interview with Motorsport.com that the team will be completely rebranding the company, including creating a new team name. This name has not yet been disclosed.
Yuki Tsunoda (14th in the standings with 17 points)
The driver who helped AlphaTauri the most, Yuki Tsunoda, bagged 17 points during the 2023 season. His consistency was evident as he continuously scored points over the course of the last few races of the season. Before the chaotic race restart, Tsunoda battled hard for a top five finish in the Australian Grand Prix, where he scored the first points for the team.
AlphaTauri is definitely heading in the right path for the upcoming season, despite Tsunoda’s two DNFs at the Singapore and Las Vegas Grands Prix and his failure to start at the Italian Grand Prix. The Japanese driver proved himself worthy, managing to out-perform his shifting teammates over the span of the 2023 season. Tsunoda starting eight for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was considered to be a major accomplishment when then-partner De Vries started 20th. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix also marked Tsunoda’s highest-finishing grid position, landing himself an impressive sixth.
Daniel Ricciardo (17th in the standings with six points)
The Honey Badger’s return to Formula 1 was undoubtedly long-awaited. After losing his McLaren seat to another fellow Australian, Oscar Piastri, Ricciardo returned after just 11 races.
Ricciardo jumped back into the field under high expectations, and he managed to score vital points for the team in his seven races. After making a change in his plan of action, the Australian driver stated that racing was his first priority.
The stunningly rapid AlphaTauri AT04 led Ricciardo to finish a surprising seventh during the Mexican Grand Prix. Only 0.216 seconds apart from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the Australian driver showed blistering performance. Ricciardo also managed to secure fourth during Qualifying – setting AlphaTauri’s best grid position in 2023.
Liam Lawson
Red Bull Racing’s reserve driver, Liam Lawson, stepped in to fill Ricciardo’s seat when he was sidelined for several races due to an injury sustained during the Dutch Grand Prix’s Free Practice session.
Lawson definitely made a few faults throughout the course of his five-race run, but the maiden points claimed in his third rodeo during the Singapore Grand Prix aided the team in more ways than one. Having qualified within the top ten, AlphaTauri bagged two points as Lawson finished a satisfying ninth.
Concluding his Japanese Super Formula season as the runner up in the standings, Lawson shared that despite missing a permanent seat with Red Bull Racing for the upcoming 2024 season, he wants to put his full focus on being a reserve driver. Lawson spoke to the Beyond The Grid podcast: “Because I’ve raced in most championships and I’ve been in F1, I can’t really go and do F2 again. There’d be no point. I can’t do Super Formula again. I could, but there’s less benefit from doing it. So I think it’s full focus on being reserve.”
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 26: AlphaTauri Team principal Franz Tost on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 26, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Kym Illman | Getty Images)
Looking ahead for 2024
After bidding farewell to Franzt Tost as the Team Principal, AlphaTauri opened their doors to Ferrari’s Laurent Mekies to take his place. During his lengthy period as Team Principal, Tost acknowledged the one goal the team had failed to accomplish. Speaking to Formula 1 medias, Tost said, “I am not happy or proud – the target was to finish fifth in the constructors’ championship and we didn’t achieve this goal.”
With the driver line-up staying the same for the upcoming 2024 season, the progress that AlphaTauri made near the end of 2023 showed a promising future. By maintaining the momentum gained throughout the second part of the 2023 season, the fresh build of their future challenger is the only thing left to rely on.
