Alinghi confirm F1 partnership for America’s Cup challenge

Former America’s Cup holders Alinghi have linked up with Formula One team Red Bull Racing for the next edition of the regatta.

After an 11-year absence, longtime team boss Ernesto Bertarelli officially announced the Swiss syndicate’s entry in Geneva on Tuesday (NZ time).

The team, who took the Auld Mug from Team New Zealand in Auckland in 2003 and defended it in 2007, also confirmed their challenge would be in partnership with the powerhouse Formula One team who had just clinched the 2021 title with Max Verstappen.

Former Team New Zealand tactician and Cup veteran Brad Butterworth was in attendance at the announcement and set to be a key part of the syndicate’s challenge.

Butterworth won the event twice with the Kiwi syndicate before being snapped up by Alinghi for their duel victories.

“While keeping the winning spirit that has always animated Alinghi, we want for this challenge to do something totally different, totally new, totally fresh,” Bertarelli said.

“With Red Bull we are equal partners in this venture. They will bring their competence, energy and strength in creating performing teams, and we bring our experience in sailing and winning the America’s Cup.”

Team New Zealand chief executive Grant Dalton said the Alinghi Red Bull challenge was significant on several levels.

“Ernesto and Alinghi have been sitting on the sidelines since 2010 and watching the America’s Cup through a number of class designs and iterations.

“Now that they have chosen to launch back into the America’s Cup, partnering with Red Bull, is a true testament to the success of the AC75 class and the boundaries of innovation, design and speed which appeals to a far wider audience than has been seen in the past.

“Alinghi has been developing grass roots sailing in Switzerland in a range of high-performance foiling classes.

“By embracing the youth development culture they are now able to field a top level 100 per cent Swiss national sailing team which is a great example of the possibilities for many countries wanting to grow their national talent pool in the top levels of sailing.”

The Alinghi Red Bull partnership became the second challenger alongside official challenger of record Team UK to confirm their attendance for the 2024 event since entries opened at the start of December.