Energy drinks giants now owns 100% of STR

Red Bull has bought Gergard Berger’s 50% stake in Toro Rosso. Berger (pictured above, with Seb Vettel) had bought the stake from Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz in 2006, after the Austrian billionaire had purchased the ailing Minardi team and rebranded it.

The sale could spell the beginning of the end for Toro Rosso, who overperformed in 2008. Berger wanted to get out before Toro Rosso started to slip towards the back of the grid.

“The new rules leave no room for improvement for a small team as STR,” the former McLaren driver told Autosport.

“Also, Dietrich’s interest will focus on Red Bull Racing, therefore the support for STR will become smaller and prevent the team from improving further from sixth.”

Young German on the Woking-based team’s wish list

According to  Bild, hilariously-named Red Bull supremo Dietrich Mateschitz has already ‘brushed off’ an inquiry from McLaren (or as the Germans call it, ‘Mercedes’) for Sebastian Vettel’s services. Understandably, the German tabloid says they won’t let the Monza winner go for ‘all the money in the world’.

Vettel has, of course, been confirmed as a driver for Toro Rosso’s bigger Brother in 2009, but it is expected that a number of big teams will be chasing his signature the following year. Could he fulfill his Championship winning potential with McLaren?

We rate Red Bull’s little brother, based on the first half of 2008

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
Drivers Sebastian Vettel (Germany) & Sebastien Bourdais (France)
Championship points 7

Read our verdict on Toro Rosso below: