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alphatauri by nyck de vries failed to meet targets in 2023

AlphaTauri agrees with Tost after criticism: 'Own goals not met'

8 April 2023 at 09:03
Last update 8 April 2023 at 09:09
  • GPblog.com

At AlphaTauri, it has been alarm phase one since the winter tests. Nyck de Vries' team finished last season in a disappointing penultimate place in the constructors' championship and the objective this season was to make significant progress and seriously catch up with the midfield teams. The Faenza-based stable failed in that task, Jody Egginton must also admit.

The AlphaTauri technical director knows that the AT04 is not competitive enough and things need to change. Franz Tost was very tough on his team during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. He stated that he no longer trusted his engineers as they indicated they were confident about the chosen direction. Meanwhile, there has been a reorganisation at AlphaTauri, including staff layoffs. Cooperation with Red Bull Racing has also intensified.

Egginton understands Tost's frustration and is working hard with his men to still make something of the season. That is not easy, as the differences with other teams are relatively large and the competition is not sitting still either. AlphaTauri therefore has to develop faster than the other teams in the king class of motorsport and that is a big challenge.

AlphaTauri develops with all its might

Within AlphaTauri, there is high hope that de Vries and Tsunoda will indeed be able to fight for points on their own in a few weeks' time. "We set good and valid goals for ourselves. Some of them we have achieved and others we have not, although we will still go for those. I am convinced that those targets are going to bring us close to what we need to be competitive. Only some of them we haven't met at the moment (...) If we do meet those targets, then I am confident that we will be able to run well in the midfield," Egginton said at Motorsport.com.

Yuki Tsunoda picked up a paltry point last weekend, thanks in part to numerous dropouts. Nyck de Vries did not manage to grab any points yet this season. Together with Logan Sargeant, he is the only driver who has yet to finish in the top-ten this year.