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Sauber will continue to race under the Alfa Romeo name in Formula 1 in 2021 after confirming its deal with the Italian manufacturer has been extended.
The Swiss team first ran Alfa Romeo title sponsorship in 2018 before running what were called Alfa Romeo chassis for the first time in 2019 in a partnership connected to its Ferrari engine and gearbox supply deal that has also boosted it financially, even though there is no ownership stake involved.
Its Hinwil base also provides services to Alfa Romeo, including manufacturing carbonfibre components used in the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm.
It is widely expected that Alfa Romeo will continue to run Ferrari-contracted Antonio Giovinazzi alongside Kimi Raikkonen next year as part of the deal, with the two drivers being used in the company’s promotional messaging as well as test driving its products at the Alfa track in Balocco in Italy.
“The extension of our relationship with Alfa Romeo is a true statement of intent from both parties,” said team principal Frederic Vasseur.
“In Sauber, Alfa Romeo found a committed, performance-driven partner to which they could entrust their brand. We are honoured to carry the heritage and past success of Alfa Romeo in our name.
“Both parties always intended for this relationship to bear fruit in the long term: we have laid some solid foundations in the last three season and we aim to reap the rewards of this work in 2021 and beyond.”
Vasseur’s reference to beyond 2021 suggests an aspiration to continue the deal beyond next year, although it has not been confirmed that this is the case and it would require the agreement of a new contract.
But the fact that the deal has only been confirmed for one more year does nothing to diffuse paddock speculation that the Alfa Romeo name might not continue in F1 after 2021.
To mark the extension of the deal, the cars will run with a celebratory Italian flag on both the rollhoop and the rear wing endplates at Imola this weekend in what the team calls a tribute to Italy and Alfa Romeo’s unique racing heritage.
“Racing and performance are at the core of Alfa Romeo’s DNA,” said Mike Manley, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which owns Alfa Romeo.
“The brand was practically born on a racetrack and today we continue to compete at the most technologically advanced level of motorsport.
“The partnership with Sauber also allows our customers to benefit from exclusive racing know-how, as it is the case of the all-new Giulia GTA and GTAm, which incorporate Sauber Engineering’s technical input particularly as it relates to advanced aerodynamics.”
Alfa Romeo made good progress in the first year of its Sauber partnership in 2018, with Charles Leclerc (pictured below) spearheading its climb to eighth in the championship with 48 points after it had finished 10th in the previous two seasons – only scoring in single figures each time.
It finished eighth again in 2019 in its first season running what were badged as Alfa Romeo chassis, with a tally of 57 points with Raikkonen and Giovinazzi driving.
But the weakness of Ferrari’s engine package led to a slump this year as although it sits in the same position in the constructors’ championship, it has managed just five points this year.
With next season a carry over of the 2021 cars, expectations are not high despite the fact that the engine package will improve.
Vasseur recently said that the intention is to focus on the new technical regulations for 2022 at the earliest opportunity.
“The situation is a bit strange, with the car almost frozen for next year even if we have some small modification on the aero regulations,” he said.
“We will have to switch to the ’22 because it’s a completely new rule and it will be the same for everybody. Then we will have to adjust when we want to switch completely.
“It will also depend on the first event and where we are on the grid at this stage but it will be the same for all the teams and we will all have the same approach at the end.”
