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

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — 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.

After climbing off the timing stand Friday at Daytona International Speedway, he was asked his thoughts on the team known as AlphaTauri the last four years being renamed to Visa Cash App RB F1 — a moniker that has been widely panned by fans as the worst in F1 history.

“What is the new name?” he asked The Associated Press.

When the 2009 F1 champion and current Sky Sports commentator heard it, he tried to repeat.

“Visa Cash App... what comes after that?” he asked. “So it is Visa. Cash App. RB. What?"

Don't worry, Jenson, nearly the entire industry and F1 fan base has wondered the same thing since Thursday's rebranding.

Button has no idea what he'll call the team while commentating this year, “exactly what we're told to call it,” was his best guess. But he had a rosier view of the rebrand than the swell of social media rage.

“People are talking about it, right?” he asked. “So that's good. It's obviously worked in getting people to talk about it.”

Perhaps, but the talk hasn't been flattering.

“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. “Not only does it sound fatuous, but it also showcases an avaricious lack of imagination that can only be spirit-sapping for those working for the team and signal to the hundreds of millions watching that this is not a competitor to be taken seriously.

"It’s hard to imagine (founder) Dietrich...