Sister Team to use Same Tyres as Red Bull

By Ian Lockwood
November 28 2005

Red Bull Racing boss Dietrich Mateschitz has terminated his new teams contract with Bridgestone. Scuderia Toro Rosso will be running on Michelin Tyres in 2006.

It is believed that Dietrich Mateschitz, the Red Bull magnate, requested the change so that his two teams - 'STR' and Red Bull Racing - could both run on the same tyres. This has obvious short term benefits in terms of tyre evaluation. With STR unlikley to be running a Friday car at Grand Prix, using the same tyre supplier could mean that the teams are able to share data ahead of qualifying to determine which compound of rubber to select.

The deal will also come as something of a relief to both tyre suppliers, who must have been concerned that any competitive advantage they managed to obtain through R&D in the close season would soon be eradicated if data was shared between Red Bull Racing & Scuderia Toro Rosso whilst using separate tyre suppliers.

On the down-side, however, if the single tyre supplier rule comes into force for the 2008 season, both Red Bull owned teams seem set to be at a disadvantage as Bridgestone seem certain to win the contract with Michelin saying they see little point in supplying tyres to a one make formula.