Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo has announced the renewal of its partnership with Swiss Formula One team Sauber for the 2023 season. Sauber currently owns and runs the Formula One team under the Alfa Romeo name.
After walking away in 1985, Alfa Romeo returned to the sport in 2019 following a deal with Sauber, which saw the car manufacturer gain title sponsorship and provide the team with technical assistance as well. The team race with Ferrari engines.
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Jean-Philippe Imparato, Chief Executive of Alfa Romeo, commented:
“I have signed the renewal for 2023 this morning. Every year in July we assess the situation. If in the future we realise we are not interested any more in Formula 1 or we don’t have returns on our investments, we’ll see what to do, but everything will be done in an orderly way.
“For the moment [the Sauber partnership] is a fantastic, common vision. If one day something else occurs, it will not be a problem. We will develop ourselves in another way, in another world, always based in motorsport, for Alfa Romeo.
“I think I have the best return on investment on earth. That can be surprising. But I repeat that: I think we have the most return on investment on earth. We invented with our colleagues from Sauber a new business model where there is a dual governance between us. We know perfectly, we say that Frederic [Vasseur] has been managing the team since the beginning, and we did not derail, even if we lived through some difficult times.
“As Alfa, I’m supporting them and activating everything I can in order to support that development. The step was for me, we have to progress year on year, race after race, even if we are struggling in some cases, and that’s it.
“Each and every year we will make the point, we will decide for the next year. I’m not part of a long-term lock-in commitment on anything, doing five years perhaps, etc. So to be clear, any negotiation on the engine, any negotiation and anything in terms of partnership is led by Fred Vasseur and Sauber, in the best interests of Sauber.
“The best interests of Alfa Romeo is to have the return on investment each and every year, and the progress in terms of performance each and every year. That’s it. The rest is completely, I would say, separate.“
Recent reports also suggest that German car manufacturer Audi is looking for a 75% stake in the Swiss team.
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