It’s no secret that Europe has been the heart of Formula 1 for decades, but it’s been increasingly getting more and more concentrated in the United Kingdom. From the German manufacturer operating out of Brackley to the Austrian reigning champions working out of Milton Keynes, it’s quite evident that the country that’s given the sport the most World Champions to date is an attractive proposition.

Unfortunately, Alpha Tauri’s decision to expand its base for aerodynamic development by shifting its facility from Bicester to Milton Keynes has not gone down well with the team principals. With Zak Brown and Andrea Seidl having the opinion that joint facilities between sister teams will inevitably lead to the sharing of intellectual property, is AlphaTauri’s operation getting closer to Red Bull’s own going to result in just that?

AlphaTauri F1 to expand its United Kingdom operation despite friction from team principals

In 2022, when Haas expanded their relationship with Ferrari, most other teams immediately felt threatened. But when a sister team decided to move so close to the reigning champions, it could result in catastrophe with Daniel Ricciardo behind the wheel. Unlike other F1 teams, Red Bull and Alpha Tauri have shared business objectives owing to the joint ownership. What this means is that it will be equally beneficial for Red Bull if AlphaTauri gets up to speed, and having four cars to fight the rest of the grid would just be icing on the cake.

This relationship between Red Bull and the Faenza-based outfit prompted Ferrari team principal, Fred Vasseur, to remark, “What they are doing together is a strange situation – with two teams belonging to the same company. The FIA has managed to deal with it so far – and I am sure it will be managed in the future too.”

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The reason for their relocation was rather simple, according to CEO Peter Bayer, who was quoted by AutoSport, “The Milton Keynes Performance Centre is necessary because the Bicester facility is becoming too small already.” The AlphaTauri executive also pointed out that the goal was to provide a large facility with ample parking space, gym facilities, and other resources that are essential to bring in top talent.

But that wasn’t the only factor behind the shift. To the dismay of team principals such as Vasseur, AlphaTauri believed moving to Milton Keynes would be essential to maximize their partnership with Red Bull. Bayer shared, “Also, the lease in Bicester is running out, so we had to make a move anyway. And the advantage of obviously being closer to Red Bull Racing and their campus is that it will be easier for us when it’s about wind tunnel work, about simulator work. So that all will make life easier for all the engineers.”

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After taking a look at what the CEO of the Faenza-based team had to say, it becomes fairly evident that the United Kingdom will be the perfect country to build their future in, but what makes Italy such an unfavorable destination?

Why is Faenza not suitable for AlphaTauri’s operations anymore?

When Sebastian Vettel won his first race in a Toro Rosso, fans of the Faenza-based constructor were filled with pride. But as of today, Italy’s policies around schooling and employment have resulted in that very team moving out of the country. Boyer shared, “If you don’t speak Italian, and if your children aren’t babies anymore, the move is very difficult, to be honest.”

The team have been running an intensive recruiting campaign recently, in which the top British talent would be offered a spot in the UK facility owing to Italy’s restrictions. Boyer shared his experience: “I give you my own example. When I started, I took my wife, we drove to Faenza. She said, ‘Oh, it’s beautiful.’ And we had pizza and drove out to the sea. And then she said, ‘So, what about the school?’. I said, ‘I don’t think there is one.’. ‘And what about potential job opportunities for me?’. I don’t think there [are any].’”

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The CEO believes several of AlphaTauri’s engineers will now move back to the United Kingdom, allowing them to work from a more suitable location. As for the Italian employees, there was no pressure to move from Faenza since most new hires were British. With Milton Keynes also being home to the reigning champions, will the move make Daniel Ricciardo a pleased man?