Alfa Romeo and Sauber set to part ways after 2023 F1 season

Swiss team to most likely team up with Audi

Alfa Romeo have announced that they will be ending their title sponsorship agreement with Sauber at the end of the 2023 Formula One season. The current deal expires during the same time and the Italian brand will not be renewing it.

Alfa Romeo, one of the sports’ biggest names, returned to the grid in 2018, after signing an agreement with Sauber the previous year and most recently during the 2021 season had announced a multi-year renewal. 

The decision to not renew their partnership came ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Alfa Romeo released a statement, which read,

“Alfa Romeo communicates that its partnership with Sauber Motorsport will end within the end of 2023. Alfa Romeo announced its return in F1 in 2017 with a long term plan, and in July 2022 has announced the decision to continue its partnership with Sauber also for 2023, given to the promising results of the first half of the season, both in terms of performances, marketing and positive collaboration with the team.

‘Since the economic and industrial turnaround of the brand will be achieved in 2022, Alfa Romeo will now evaluate among the many opportunities on the table, and decide which will be the best one to sustain the long term strategy and the positioning of the brand.”

Alfa Romeo’s announcement coincides with that of Audi’s entrance into the sport and reports suggest Audi will be partnering with Sauber. Audi had mentioned that they will announce the team they will partner with ‘before the end of this year’. With Audi set to join the grid from 2026, the Sauber name is most likely to return to the grid or Audi can bump up their entry and join as title sponsors for the Swiss team in 2024.