Formula One new team name mocked as the worst in series history

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jenson Button, so entrenched in his preparation for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, seemed to miss the news that Red Bull’s junior Formula One team had been rebranded. “Visa Cash App RB is the worst team name in Formula 1 history and is an embarrassment to Red Bull and Formula 1 as a whole,” wrote Edd Straw of The Race. None of the older F1 fans wants Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Williams, and other icon F1 brands co-branded with a consumer product or service.” Many fans have grumbled they are going to continue to call the team either Toro Rosso or AlphaTauri — or versions of “RB” or “Red Bull 2” or “Red Bull junior team” since “RB” is in the official team name. “If you or your business is being parodied on ‘SNL,’ you are doing something worth talking about.” Putting RB in the name also raises questions as to just how separate the junior team is actually operating from parent Red Bull, the three-time reigning champions. “A $20 million spend to be seen in front of 70-plus million F1 viewers in each of the 24 events makes this sponsorship spend look as economical as web banner ad spends 10 to 15 years ago.” Red Bull has received criticism from its rivals about its alliance with the junior team, and in adding “RB” to the name and including Visa across all the F1 properties, it makes it appear as if there really isn’t much of a separation at all between the two.