The prestigious Italian brand owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) signed a multi-year technical and commercial partnership agreement with Swiss Sauber F1 Team for participation in the Formula 1 world championship beginning with the 2018 season.
The single-seaters will sport the distinctive colours and logo of Alfa Romeo, the team’s title sponsor, and will be equipped with 2018 Ferrari power units. The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team’s new challenger is the C37, which looks different to last year’s C36 – on one hand, this is due to the new technical regulations and, on the other hand, because of the team’s latest technical approach.
The return of Alfa Romeo, one of the major protagonists in Formula 1 history, is expected to contribute significantly to the appeal and future development of the sport. Alfa Romeo brings with it technological know-how and a large and passionate fan base, while participation in the championship also offers benefits for the brand in areas such as technology transfer and road safety.
Alfa Romeo’s comeback restores to F1 one of the names that has gone down in the history of motorsport’s premium championship and marks the return to the circuits of the “Quadrifoglio,” the legendary badge that has appeared on Alfa Romeo’s top performance cars since 1923. Featured on the engine cover of the new F1 car, the famous good-luck charm has a fascinating history, deeply rooted in the racing world.
Alfa Romeo is known around the world for its racing heritage and technological excellence. The undisputed champion of the pre-war Grand Prix (in 1925, the GP Tipo 2 dominated the first World Championship), Alfa Romeo participated in Formula 1 from 1950 to 1988, both as a constructor and engine supplier. Immediately upon its debut, Alfa Romeo won the first two drivers’ world championships, in 1950 and 1951, with drivers Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio. From 1961 to 1979, Alfa Romeo participated as engine supplier to several F1 teams. Following its return as a constructor in 1979, Alfa Romeo achieved its best result in 1983, taking sixth place in the constructors’ championship.
More than 30 years after withdrawing as a competitor from Formula 1 (1985), the brand has returned to the pinnacle of motor racing with the clear intention to make its mark.
