Toro Rosso have appointed 35-year-old German Alex Hitzinger as their new technical director, the Formula One team said on Wednesday.

Hitzinger joins the Italy-based team on November 1 in place of departed Gabriele Tredozi.

He was formerly engine maker Cosworth's head of Formula One development and also worked for Toyota in rallying and Formula One projects.

The Red Bull-owned team said Hitzinger would also serve as head of advanced technologies at sister team Red Bull Racing to research and develop new technologies such as energy recovery for future use in Formula One