Photo: Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo's potential return to Formula 1 has been brought into discussion by Sergio Marchionne, but the CEO has not specified an actual timeframe for when this might happen.
The return of the Alfa Romeo brand to the top tier of motorsport had also been discussed last year, when Motorsport revealed insider information regarding the possibility of the Red Bull F1 Team to use Alfa Romeo-badged engines for the 2016 season.
Eventually, the Red Bull Formula 1 team decided to use Renault engines instead of Ferrari units badged as Alfa Romeo power plants. Questioned about the situation, Sergio Marchionne revealed his dream of bringing Alfa Romeo back to Formula 1.
The CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has stated that he believes that Alfa Romeo has the engineering resources to develop an engine and chassis for use in the most expensive form of motorsport on the planet.
Naturally, Marchionne admitted that Ferrari would support Alfa Romeo's return and help them develop a race car. However, Marchionne would prefer a standalone project for Alfa Romeo's push in Formula 1. Since the sport is the most expensive branch of motorsport even with the limits FIA put on team budgets, we do not believe the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Group can afford the development costs for such plans.
After all, the Alfa Romeo brand is not doing so well regarding sales and it has high ambitions for the future, but with no new models coming to showrooms too soon. Since Europe's largest and most successful car maker, Volkswagen, decided not to enter Formula 1, we do not see how the Italian-American corporation would stand a shot at a financially viable team in this branch of motorsport.
Furthermore, Alfa Romeo's plans for an eventual return to other forms of motorsport are not backed by the CEO of the FCA Group. When asked about a future Alfa Romeo team racing at Le Mans, Marchionne quickly answered that he'd “rather see them in F1.” When the CEO of FCA states that he would prefer an Alfa Romeo team in Formula 1 rather than another form of motorsport, we think it is unlikely that the Italian brand will have a factory-backed team on an FIA-sanctioned starting grid shortly.
Eventually, the Red Bull Formula 1 team decided to use Renault engines instead of Ferrari units badged as Alfa Romeo power plants. Questioned about the situation, Sergio Marchionne revealed his dream of bringing Alfa Romeo back to Formula 1.
The CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has stated that he believes that Alfa Romeo has the engineering resources to develop an engine and chassis for use in the most expensive form of motorsport on the planet.
Naturally, Marchionne admitted that Ferrari would support Alfa Romeo's return and help them develop a race car. However, Marchionne would prefer a standalone project for Alfa Romeo's push in Formula 1. Since the sport is the most expensive branch of motorsport even with the limits FIA put on team budgets, we do not believe the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Group can afford the development costs for such plans.
After all, the Alfa Romeo brand is not doing so well regarding sales and it has high ambitions for the future, but with no new models coming to showrooms too soon. Since Europe's largest and most successful car maker, Volkswagen, decided not to enter Formula 1, we do not see how the Italian-American corporation would stand a shot at a financially viable team in this branch of motorsport.
Furthermore, Alfa Romeo's plans for an eventual return to other forms of motorsport are not backed by the CEO of the FCA Group. When asked about a future Alfa Romeo team racing at Le Mans, Marchionne quickly answered that he'd “rather see them in F1.” When the CEO of FCA states that he would prefer an Alfa Romeo team in Formula 1 rather than another form of motorsport, we think it is unlikely that the Italian brand will have a factory-backed team on an FIA-sanctioned starting grid shortly.
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