Red Bull have taken complete control of Toro Rosso with the company’s billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz buying back the 50 per cent stake owned by ex-F1 driver Gerhard berger.
The announcement comes as something of a surprise given that Mateschitz announced that he was keen to sell his stake in the team earlier in the year.
“I am very grateful to Gerhard for his huge input,” said Mateschitz confirming the buy-out.
“Together we turned Toro Rosso into a team that qualified on a regular basis in the top 10 and collected world championship points.”
Mateschitz bought the former Minardi outfit back in 2006 and re-badged it as Toro Rosso, before selling the stake to Gerhard Berger.
Since then the Italian minnow has consistently punched above its weight with Sebastian Vettel taking the team’s first victory in Monza this year.
Toro Rosso’s 2009 driver line-up has yet to be confirmed but recent speculation suggests that Switzerland’s Sebastien Buemi is likely to be in the frame.
Today’s announcement is also positive news for Sebastien Bourdais who said that his hopes of racing for the team next year depended on sound financial backing.
