Power partnership to spark revival? - What to expect from AlphaTauri in 2024

It won't be long until F1 teams begin to take the covers off their new challengers for the upcoming season as we eagerly anticipate the first track running of the year in the Bahrain test.

Ahead of the car launches, RacingNews365 will take a look at what to expect from each team ahead of the new campaign and next up is the team formerly known as AlphaTauri, which finished eighth in the Constructors' standings last term.

New name

Whilst we don't know what the team's new identity will be yet, one thing is for certain - it won't be AlphaTauri.

Since Red Bull acquired the former Minardi team ahead of the 2006 season, the outfit has transformed between Toro Rosso and the clothing company but, after four seasons, a new brand will be forthcoming.

There have been various rumours as to what the new name will be, with Racing Bulls seemingly the pick of the bunch given the cryptic listing on the FIA's official entry list for the new campaign.

But it is likely we will only find out when the new challenger is launched next month.

Closer ties to Red Bull

One thing the team is eager to establish is a closer connection to Red Bull's parent team.

AlphaTauri has always opted to try and develop its own parts in conjunction with those supplied by Red Bull - within the parameters of the regulations - which has often been a surprise, considering the latter's success in the sport.

Under new management, it seems the obvious route has now been taken, with a greater focus being placed on its United Kingdom-based operation in conjunction with the main factory in Faenza.

If exploited fully - and integrated properly - the team should springboard up the midfield order into a regular points-scoring outfit.

Crucial season for Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda has shown steady progression since his rookie season in the sport.

The Japanese driver, despite having scored on his debut, struggled to string together consistent results as a number of confidence-knocking mistakes set him back alongside Pierre Gasly.

But since then, his evident speed has begun to shine on more occasions than not and, at the midway point of last season, Tsunoda's peers were full of praise for his efforts at the wheel of a car that was struggling for performance.

Another step up has to be taken though for Tsunoda to be sure of his future in F1, whether that be a part of Red Bull's set-up or elsewhere. Consistency is key.

Ricciardo's Red Bull audition

Daniel Ricciardo enters the season with a huge opportunity to reignite his F1 career.

The Australian was out of a seat this time 12 months ago having been dropped by McLaren and was forced to settle with a role as third driver for Red Bull - the team he left at the end of 2018.

But Nyck de Vries' struggles opened the door for a way back for Ricciardo and, given Sergio Perez's apparently precarious position alongside Max Verstappen, a strong season - with errors kept to a minimum and strong pace - could see the eight-time Grand Prix winner back in race-winning machinery.

There would be no-one begrudging Ricciardo of that chance.

New management a turning point?

Franz Tost had been an ever-present since Red Bull took over the former Minardi outfit, with his racer-through-and-through philosophy proving both a help and a hindrance to Toro Rosso-AlphaTauri in equal measures.

The new management structure of Peter Bayer and Laurent Mekies are the ones who have opted to make closer ties to the main Red Bull team, whilst also opting to go with the Ricciardo-Tsunoda partnership for a mixture of youth and experience, despite the impressive nature of Liam Lawson's cameo in the second half of last season.

Mekies brings a wealth of experience from roles with Ferrari and the FIA, with Bayer having also held an established role within the governing body.

How the duo take the team forward remains to be seen, but the new structure is certainly a powerful partnership.