Franz Tost has been left shocked by the unexpected reliability problems AlphaTauri have faced during the early rounds of the new Formula 1 season. The Italian team, supplied with rebadged Honda power units by sister outfit Red Bull, have fallen foul of engine problems on three occasions during the first three races. Pierre Gasly's AT03 went up in flames on race day in Bahrain, before Yuki Tsunoda suffered two engine failures in Saudi Arabia, including one that prevented him from starting the Grand Prix. As a result, AlphaTauri have found themselves playing catch up on the likes of Ferrari-powered Haas and Alfa Romeo, with only 10 points on the board after three races.
Tost: Reliability problems were a big shock for us
Reflecting on the start of the season, AlphaTauri team boss Tost described the issues as "a big shock for us". "We did the tests in Barcelona as well as in Bahrain without any problems - with thousands of kilometers - and now, the season starts, and in every race we have real big reliability issues," Tost explained, speaking to members of the media, including RacingNews365.com . "In Bahrain, the battery on Pierre's car caught fire and in Saudi Arabia, we managed to lose two engines. "This is really a big shock for us because, as a result, Yuki had to start [a race] from the back of the grid, and this is, of course, not how you want to start the season."
Red Bull struggles have also been clear to see
Only Red Bull have suffered more retirements than AlphaTauri after three races in 2022. As the only two teams running Red Bull Powertrains-branded engines, the parallels between their early-season problems appear clear. However, the specifics of their issues have been very different . Both are now in a race against time to control their issues and join the fight with their rivals – Red Bull at the head of the pack and AlphaTauri in a competitive midfield group. Tost added: "The midfield is very, very close together and it will be very tight."
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