The incredible confirmation about Racing Bulls: Red Bull considered shutting down Faenza-based F1 team. Red Bull considered closing or selling the Faenza-based F1 team before rebranding it as Racing Bulls.

After rumors circulated earlier in the 2024 Formula 1 season, RB chief Peter Bayer has confirmed that Red Bull had contemplated shutting down the Faenza F1 team, now known as Racing Bulls. A combination of unmet expectations, disappointing performances, and damage to the brand’s image almost convinced the RBR management to take drastic action. Only the rebranding — the second since Toro Rosso’s creation — saved the team from its dark fate.

Racing Bulls — previously AlphaTauri or Toro Rosso — was at serious risk of disappearing. The news comes directly from Peter Bayer, CEO of the Faenza team, who is leading it through its second rebranding. Red Bull had been on the verge of shutting down or selling its “junior team” due to a lack of results that had been persisting for several seasons.

What kept the team alive was the arrival of new investors and a change in philosophy: in Milton Keynes, they meticulously studied how much room the FIA regulations allowed to ensure that the two teams could remain rivals while still collaborating. The return of Liam Lawson to the car has also restored the “developmental” function of the team.

“[Red Bull] laid out a strategy because I think it wasn’t a secret that they were at least discussing whether to keep both teams or focus on just one and thus manage our F1 operations through Red Bull Racing,” Peter Bayer explained as recently reported by the Motorsport Week website.

“But very quickly, they came to the conclusion that ‘no, we want to keep both teams’ because there are many positive aspects.” – the RB chief concluded. However, the team’s management continues to raise eyebrows among rivals: Zak Brown frequently voices concerns about the situation, but no major disruptions seem to be on the horizon.