Franz Tost (born 20 January 1956 in
Trins) is an Austrian former racecar driver, currently the team principal of the
Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One team.
As a young man, Tost competed in
Formula Ford and
Formula Three. He then studied Sport Science and Management, working as a team manager at the
Walter Lechner Racing School. He joined
Willi Weber Management in 1993. He initially ran the WTS
Formula Three team, then looked after a young
Ralf Schumacher's career in
Japan. When the German moved into
F1, Tost followed him, working for
BMW as the German marque re-entered
F1 in
2000 as engine supplier for the
Williams team, for whom Schumacher was driving at the time. Tost worked for BMW as Track Operations Manager until 1 January 2006, when the new Scuderia Toro Rosso team hired him as Team Principal.
Assault on Scott Speed
Following the
2007 European Grand Prix, at the
Nürburgring in Germany, it was alleged that Tost assaulted driver
Scott Speed after the first turn confusion caused by rain. After Tost later denied the incident, Speed went to the press describing the acrimonious situation at the team, stating that "after coming out and denying this stuff, it's just another very dishonest thing that Franz and
Gerhard have said in the media to damage me and
Tonio". Scott also stated that he doesn't want to race for Tost and Berger again.
References
<br>
Read More