Red Bull GmbH announces that Franz Tost will take on the role of Team Principal of the Squadra Toro Rosso, as from 1st January 2006.

The 49 year old Austrian has been Track Operation Manager at BMW Motorsport since June 2000. Tost has a wealth of motor sport experience, which includes competing as a driver in Formula Ford and Formula 3. After studying Sport Science and Management, he worked as a team manager at the Walter Lechner Racing School. Stints as team manager to the Eufra and Vienna-Racing teams followed prior to joining Willi Weber Management in 1993, to run the WTS Formula 3 team. Tost then looked after Ralf Schumacher’s career in Japan, following him to Formula 1 and then moving to BMW Motorsport.

Dietrich Mateschitz, owner and CEO of Red Bull, was very pleased to announce the appointment: "Franz is a very experienced Formula 1 insider, who fits well within our new team," he said.

"In my six years at BMW I learnt a lot, especially on the technical side and for this I want to thank BMW. My appointment as Team Principal at Squadra Toro Rosso offers a great new challenge that I am looking forward to taking on.”

In the interim period leading up to 1st January 2006, Red Bull GmbH is overseeing the day-to-day running of the team.