Scuderia AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost has pinpointed 2023 as the season smaller teams can shoot up Formula 1’s pecking order.
Sweeping regulation changes will come into effect next year, and many in the paddock are expecting a big shake-up in terms of team competitiveness.
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However, Tost has stressed that smaller teams will start to benefit more from F1’s recently introduced budget cap in 2023.
“Of course, this is the target, but I doubt whether it will be the case next year because the top teams had an advantage, keeping more people in there until June,” Tost told GP Fans when asked about AlphaTauri’s chances of moving up the grid next year.
“We will see now how this works. The cost cap will really start to count from 2023 onwards because then all the teams should really be on the same level [in terms] of resources and, of course, money. Then it depends on which team works the most efficiently,” he added.
Tost also commented on Pierre Gasly’s excellent form at AlphaTauri ever since he returned to the team from Red Bull in the middle of the 2019 season.
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He said the Frenchman has benefitted from having the full support of the team:
“It’s very, very important that the driver feels well, that the driver enjoys being in the team, that he feels he is being supported, that this is the case at Scuderia AlphaTauri.
“This is also an important pillar as to why Pierre has shown such good performance,” he added.