Alfa to return to F1...well, sort of

[JV911]

No fan-car unfortunately, but an Alfa-badged, Ferrari-powered Sauber

From: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2017/11/alfa-romeo-to-return-to-f1-with-sauber.html

The Sauber F1 Team have signed a multi-year technical and commercial partnership with Alfa Romeo, returning the Italian car manufacturer to F1 after an absence of more than 30 years.

The deal will see the Swiss squad renamed Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team from 2018, with the car bearing the Alfa Romeo logo and being equipped with 2018-spec Ferrari engines. 

“This agreement with the Sauber F1 Team is a significant step in the reshaping of the Alfa Romeo brand, which will return to Formula 1 after an absence of more than 30 years,” said Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne, who also acts as CEO of Alf’s parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

“A storied marque that has helped make the history of this sport, Alfa Romeo will join other major automakers that participate in Formula 1. The brand itself will also benefit from the sharing of technology and strategic know-how with a partner of the Sauber F1 Team’s undisputed experience.

“The Alfa Romeo engineers and technicians, who have already demonstrated their capabilities with the newly-launched models, Giulia and Stelvio, will have the opportunity to make that experience available to the Sauber F1 Team. At the same time, Alfa Romeo fans will once again have the opportunity to support an automaker that is determined to begin writing an exciting new chapter in its unique, legendary sporting history.”

Pascal Picci, Chairman of Sauber Holding AG, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Alfa Romeo to the Sauber F1 Team. Alfa Romeo has a long history of success in Grand Prix racing, and we are very proud that this internationally renowned company has chosen to work with us for its return to the pinnacle of motorsport.

“Working closely with a car manufacturer is a great opportunity for the Sauber Group to further develop its technology and engineering projects. We are confident that together we can bring the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team great success, and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Alfa Romeo was the dominant force as the Formula 1 World Championship began in 1950, with the Italian marque claiming an historic 1-2-3 in the first ever race at Silverstone before claiming back-to-back world championships with Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio.

The Milan-based marque then served an engine supplier for several teams from 1961 until 1979, before returning with a works team from 1979 to 1985.

Sauber have not yet revealed who will race for them in 2018, but having strengthened their ties with Ferrari – which carries Alfa logos on its cars - the Scuderia’s junior drivers Charles Leclerc (the recently crowned F2 champion) and Antonio Giovinazzi are thought to be firmly in the frame for seats.

[ANF]

A bit like the Aston Martin Red Bull, marketing spin.......

[Ozvino]

The gasping dying breath of F1 is my suggestion - between pure greed and overly complex rules they have managed to kill the goose stone dead

nice one Bernie.....

[Troubleshooter]

8 hours ago, Ozvino said:

The gasping dying breath of F1 is my suggestion - between pure greed and overly complex rules they have managed to kill the goose stone dead

nice one Bernie.....

First thing they should change is the ridiculous 10 place starting grid penalty for the next race because of an unscheduled power unit (hahaha an engine to me) change....poor Brendan Hartley never had a chance to get into the top 10. ---and Verstappen and Ricciardo penalised many times, made Riciardos hair curl!!! He still smiled though, his default expression --!there's always next season

[LeeM]

First thing they should do is stop the turbo/battery crap and get back to sounding like F1! It's a joke, nothing but an utter joke this F1 circus. When even the drivers prefer to watch and listen to F2 goes to show what an utter farce this sport has become. The grid penalties for a blown engine etc is also a joke, and most of the drivers need their manbags carried for them and their manicurist on speed dial! Pathetic sport I'll never watch again

 Rant over, carry on

[TINGY]

I find this a bit ridiculous really, "Alfa back in F1", more like, they have given some money to someone to build a chassis and put the Alfa name on it.

Not like the old days when a manufacturer would make the chassis and engine and run it.

[JV911]

16 hours ago, Troubleshooter said:

First thing they should change is the ridiculous 10 place starting grid penalty for the next race because of an unscheduled power unit 

For starters, they just need to give drivers enough fuel so they can actually race, instead of being an economy run. They also need to stop changing the bloody technical regs every season. For example they mandated that an engine must last x number of races. They claim this will reduce costs, but ironically it cost more in R&D with teams having to develop donks that will last the requisite number of races.

Came across this last night...looks interesting!

"Inspired" by F5000, using engines and transaxles from the v8 supercars

http://www.supercars.com/videos/support-categories/super5000-hits-the-track/

 

 

 

[LeeM]

That Super 5000 was a bloody farce the way it has ended up. The Supercar 'people' basically screwed over another mob who had been building and developing the chassis, so now they were forced to join forces for one series. Google it if anyone is interested