Its all change at Alpha Tauri come next season. The team that was Toro Rosso and bloodied the skills of quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel is set for its biggest shakeup since the unpopular name change from Minardi back in 2006.

Franz Tost has been the team principal since he left BMW at the end of 2005 but is set to step down at the end of this season. The Australian former racing driver will be replaced by Ferrari’s Laurent Mekies.

De Vries under pressure

On track the team has been performing below its historical level for a number of seasons now and new driver Nyck de Vries has recently come under pressure.

The rookie Dutchman was expected to join Alpha Tauri and given his age and championship winning experience hit the ground running.

“Yuki is young and doesn’t have this experience and background, so [Nyck] should lead the team,” Helmut Marko told motorsport.com when De Vries was announced for 2023.

Marko wanted Nyck as team leader

“We will see how it goes next year, but from the experience and the personality he has, he should be the team leader.”

Reports have been circulating that Marko is disappointed with his new recruit and give him until the Spanish GP to improve or risk being ousted.

However, support for De Vries comes from 6 time Grand Prix winner and uncle of Mick Schumacher who argues the rookie was always set for a learning curve when joining F1 full time.

Ferrari understand Red Bull trick

Tost to sign different driver

“He was doing well and had already won a lot, but he also needed a lot of time for that,” Ralph Schumacher said in an interview with formel1.de

“When you know that drivers need a little longer, especially in a category where there is very little testing, then you have to say that it was surprising when Marko appointed that boy as a driver.”

Schumacher claims the Alpha Tauri boss had no intention of signing Nyck de Vries and the motivation for the move may have been part of the Red Bull/Mercedes vendetta.

One in the eye for Mercedes

De Vries had won the Formula E championship with Mercedes but been allowed to leave the fold. Clearly if he was to succeed within the Red Bull family it would be one in the eye for Toto Wolff.

Ralph in fact claims Tost wanted to sign an experienced driver to replace the outgoing Pierre Gasly.

“Franz had a completely different driver on mind than de Vries,” Ralf revealed.

“He knows that drivers take two or three years to grow and the driver that was available was Mick [Schumacher]. But then came Helmut Marko who, for personal reasons or whatever, didn’t want to sign Mick.

Hamilton contract delayed further

Marko has a problem with Schumacher

“Marko seems to have a problem with the Schumacher name or personally with Mick,” adds Ralph. 

“Otherwise I don’t understand at all why there weren’t any talks, because you have to bear in mind that Red Bull doesn’t have a very strong market in Germany.

“Having a Schumacher in your Formula 1 team would have had a lot of positive influence,” concluded the ex-Toyota and Williams driver.

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A big crash for Bottas and Russell in 2021 👀#ImolaGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/rxugTuQxA4

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 16, 2023