Alfa Romeo Could Be Coming Back To F1
How cool would it be to see the Alfa Romeo name back in Formula 1? Well, it could be a possibility, with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne saying the option is being explored.
The iconic Italian brand enjoyed success in the first two years of the F1 world championship, with Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio claiming the 1950 and 1951 drivers’ titles at the wheel of Alfa Romeo machines.
Marchionne is also chairman at Ferrari, with its F1 team running Alfa Romeo branding on the side of the SF15-T this season. He says the name could return as a competitor to Ferrari.
Following its success in the early 1950s, Alfa Romeo switched to suppling engines in the 60s and 70s, before returning as a constructor in 1979. The team scored just four podiums during its second stint as a works outfit and pulled out of F1 at the end of the 1985 season.
Marchionne told media in a news conference at Ferrari’s Maranello base:
“It’s incredible how the Alfa marque remains in people’s hearts. For that very reason we are thinking about bringing it back, as our competitor, to racing, to Formula One. It’s important for Alfa to return.”
According to Reuters, discussions to bring back the Alfa Romeo name with Red Bull took place, before the team decided to stick with Renault power units under the TAG-Heuer brand.
Comments
I mean… why not… not bad idea Sergio. Rebadge the same ferrari f1 with no extra development costs but having twice the cars on the grid. I see where you are going. Bringing back alfa to the states. Big marketing pr. Good job.
the only question is.. will it make it more unreliable than a honda powered mclaren now that it has a alfa badge?
Maybe McLaren could buy Alfa engines, and things could be better!
Except for Bad Luck Alonso, who’d return under an FCA team xD ahahaha
They should enter WEC. The more teams the better.
Too much competion in LMP1 category. And if they create a WEC program, I think they would like to win Le Mans, not being 2nd or 3rd
Anyways, there are some rumours about a prototype, probably for American LeMans Series, but it could be just a first step (Mr. Marchionne LOVES american market, so he could really care to some races in the USA)
I’ll just be happy to see Alfa racing as a factory again, it’s been a long time coming and Alfa badges on the side of a Ferrari just doesn’t quite do it for me
agreed!
For the eagle eyed observers, you may have noticed that the Ferrari F1 car has actually had Alfa Romeo stickers on it already, on the rear of the side pods. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if customer Ferrari engines became Alfa Romeo badged some time soon.
What I have wondered for a while now though, is that all Ferrari road cars with V6 engines have been branded as “Dino”, rather than as “Ferrari”. With the current F1 regulations, should the Ferrari F1 car now be branded as a “Dino”?
That’s actually the same place CT got the Alfa badge for the article!
i thought if this new alfa doesnt sell they will go bankrupt?
Well there hasn’t been many engine explosions lately in F1 so Alfa coming back could spice things up abit :)
Gasps In Tifosi
There are some rumours about an Alfa Romeo prototype for American LeMans Series.. but in Formula 1 it’d be easy, they could just put an Alfa sticker on some “crap team”, use rebadged Ferrari engines, and… done! “Alfa Romeo Redbull F1 Team”!
Anyways to see the Alfa brand in motorsport is exciting, I hope something will go in this direction.. my wet dreams are about a Giulia QV Touring Car… <3
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