Alfa Romeo is leaving F1

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Alfa Romeo is leaving F1 Alfa Romeo is leaving...

Jay Tee

24/11/2023

Sauber and Alfa Romeo’s six-year partnership in F1 will come to an end after the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Photos: Stellantis and Sauber Group

SWITZERLAND

The final race of the 2023 Formula 1 season will be Alfa Romeo’s last. The Italian manufacturer’s partnership with Sauber Motorsport began in 2018, with Alfa Romeo being the title sponsor of the Sauber Formula One team.

In the six years of Alfa Romeo and Sauber’s partnership, the team has seen multiple drivers at the helm of the car including 2007 WDC winner Kimi Räikkönen, Charles Leclerc (currently driving for Ferrari), Antonio Giovinazzi and the current driver pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.

But all good things must come to an end, and the Alfa Romeo F1 team will withdraw itself from Formula 1 after the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi. To commemorate the end of Alfa and Sauber’s run, the C43 race cars of both Bottas and Zhou will don a special livery emblazoned with the number “6” to commemorate both companies’ partnership

Speaking about the brand’s departure from F1, Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato said: “When you close such an important chapter in the history of a brand, it’s time to take stock. For Alfa Romeo, this F1 adventure represented an international showcase at the highest level, as well as a profound human and sporting experience,”

However, he then goes on to say; “Alfa Romeo has competition in its DNA and will return to thrill its fans as soon as possible, when the conditions are right.” So for the time being, Alfa Romeo’s absence from the grid isn’t permanent. But it’s anyone’s guess when the team will make a return.

Sauber has already announced that it’ll join forces with Audi to form the Audi Works F1 team from 2026 onwards. But with Alfa’s impending departure, that leaves a two-year gap until Audi’s F1 debut. Valtteri Bottas himself has a seat at Sauber until the end of 2025 while Zhou Guanyu has his seat until the end of 2024.

With no title sponsor and possibly no engine supplier, who knows what Sauber will have in store for the 2024 season? Perhaps we’ll hear something on the grapevine leading up to the titular race this weekend – which in all likelihood be won by Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

About the Author

Jay Tee

A millennial with the mental age of a quadragenarian, CarBuyer's latest stringer writes and talks about anything with four wheels and a motor. Doesn't fully get TikTok, makes TikToks anyway. Moonlights for TopGear Singapore. Follow him on Instagram (and TikTok) at @jayyteejy

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