Alfa Romeo to remain in Formula 1 after signing multi-year deal

Alfa Romeo will remain in Formula 1 after it was announced they signed a new multi-year deal with Sauber. The Italian sports car brand returned to F1 in 2018 after a hiatus that lasted more than 30 years. In 2019, the Sauber team was rebranded in the name of their main sponsors. Now the new deal means a name which is ingrained in F1 history will stay on in F1.

“We are delighted to be announcing the extension of this partnership. Alfa Romeo have been an incredible companion over the last few years, and we are even more excited about the chapters that are yet to come,” said Team Principal Fred Vasseur.

“The new regulations are giving us the chance to make another step forward and I firmly believe we are perfectly placed to make big gains together. We are looking forward to our future together and to keeping moving towards the front of the grid.

“This relationship is also very important for our company as a whole, beyond the track. The work we have done in the automotive world has shown the extent of the technology and manufacturing skills of Sauber Engineering and we are confident we can continue working for Alfa Romeo on new and exciting projects that will shape the future of the car industry.”

‘Alfa Romeo proud to honour racing DNA’

The company CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato is also pleased to stick with the deal with Sauber. The length of the deal is not known, but it is for a number of years.

“As an historic Italian automotive brand, Alfa Romeo was born on the racetrack. Today we are proud to continue honoring that racing DNA by placing it at heart of the future of our Brand.

“We are driven by passion and excellence. Formula 1 represents a cutting-edge laboratory for the future electrification of our range, fully coherent with our vision for the coming years. Furthermore, motorsport brings the incomparable global exposure we wish to leverage for a successful future.”

Alfa Romeo are eighth in the constructors’ championship after nine Grands Prix. Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi are the two drivers for this season.

That being said, it is not clear whether the two will be at the team next season. The future of Raikkonen is always up in the air given his tenure in the sport. To make things worse, he has – for the most part – been outdone by his young teammate.

But even Giovinazzi, who is a Ferrari junior driver, is not secure in his future. The team are linked with current Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas as well as Haas driver Mick Schumacher.