The AlphaTauri team’s disappointing results last season – ninth in the Constructors’ Championship – had a negative impact on the potential sale of the team by Red Bull. This is the opinion of Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport consultant.

“Having a talented team is part of our philosophy. Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen joined us with AlphaTauri, but if the second team doesn’t do well, it doesn’t help things,” Marco told Sky Germany in response to rumors that Nyck de Vries is one of the second regular drivers.

Red Bull Racing won both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships for the first time in years, courtesy of Max Verstappen, and AlphaTauri had a dramatic season, finishing final in the World Cup standings. As a result, Red Bull management will consider relocating Albadari in Fenza, Italy, to the UK, close to Red Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes.

Red Bull bought Minardi’s F1 team in 2005 and renamed it Scuderia Toro Rosso and then Alfa Dauri. Marko confirms that Red Bull is exploring how to make the AlphaTauri investment more profitable. “Normally, we don’t comment on rumours,” says Marco. “But you think about how you can increase efficiency. If you have a team that wins the World Cup and the other team is in ninth place, there seems to be very little synergy. The overall result is not satisfactory. As decent business people, our partners will make the right decision.