Alfa Romeo Signs Partnership with Sauber F1 to Start in 2018

The Alfa Romeo brand will return to Formula 1 Racing in 2018 after signing a partnership with Sauber and Ferrari.

Some exciting news has come up in the racing world. After more than three decades, (32 years to be exact), Alfa Romeo, according to Motor Trend, is joining again with Formula 1.

The automaker has just joined up with Switzerland’s Sauber F1 Team for the 2018 season as the outfit’s sponsor. Although the team will be waving the Alfa Romeo banner, it will continue to use Ferrari engines throughout the season.

The Ferrari Club of America signed a multi-year technical and commercial partnership with Sauber that will begin in 2018.  The agreement includes “strategic, commercial, and technological cooperation,” and will allow Sauber to work with Alfa’s technical staff for its benefit.

The official name of the team’s outfit will be known as the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team – a mouthful, but an exciting one at that.

Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne, said the following in a press release:

"“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. 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.”"

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The Italian automaker was a dominant force when the Formula 1 World Championship began in 1950.

Alfa Romeo claimed a historic 1-2-3 in the first-ever race at Silverstone, and also won back-to-back world championships with Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio.

The Milan-based brand later served as an engine supplier for numerous teams in the segment from 1961 until 1979.

"According to Formula 1, 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."

This announcement means that Alfa Romeo will compete next season with FCA spinoff Ferrari. That is, unless the prancing horse decides to take itself out of the sport. This move seems strategic as Formula 1 has just began discussing next-generation technical regulations for the future 2021 season.

Next: Michael Schumacher-Driven Ferrari F2001 Up For Auction

Take a look at the video below to hear the latest details on the upcoming 2018 Formula 1 partnership.

Both Aston Martin and Porsche may also jump into the F1 segment as engine suppliers, though the decision to do so weighs heavily on the potential direction of the new rules.

Source: Motor Trend