Alfa back in Formula One!
FERRARI ENGINES: MANUFACTURER TEAMS UP WITH SAUBER FOR 2018
The legendary Aston Martin becomes a title sponsor of the Red Bull team.
Iwas somewhat sceptical on hearing that Alfa Romeo will return to Formula One in 2018. Owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the Italian manufacturer has entered into a multi-year technical and commercial partnership agreement with Swiss team Sauber.
The Hinwil based company will be known as the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team and will compete in the colours and logo of the Milan based manufacturer, with a 2018 Ferrari power unit providing the driving force for the Swiss chassis.
The driver line up retains Swede Marcus Ericsson, who is joined by 20-year old Charles Leclerc, the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Champion from Monaco.
The reserve driver is Antonio Giovinazzi, the young Italian from the Ferrari stable.
It has been 30 years since Alfa Romeo were last involved in F1.
You have to wonder why the decision was made in this era of uncertainty when some are talking of leaving the sport if the proposed regulations are not in line with their company’s policy.
FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne enthused the benefits of this agreement for both Alfa Romeo and Sauber.
Yet this is the man who, with his Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, has threatened that the Maranello squad will leave F1 if the changes do not suit them. So why enter a second team? Sauber have excellent engineers at their disposal, plus state of the art facilities, but surely FCA can surpass the Swiss team on all these points.
Certainly involvement in another team will allow Marchionne to have a larger stake in F1 and more leverage at the negotiating table, that could prove useful in the near future.
Marchionne said: “When we sit at the table to discuss the future of Formula One, we are playing two marques. The guns are loaded in a different way.”
Now that sounds like fighting talk to me.
It is not just the new regulations that create a stir.
There is still the issue of F1’s financial distribution, particularly special bonuses paid to teams such as Mercedes, Red Bull and of course topping those payouts, Ferrari.
I would love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.
One has to remember that the 10 teams that line up on the grid have just four engine suppliers.
They are all major automobile manufacturers, which could create some difficulties for F1 owners Liberty Media.
Ferrari has already hinted at a possible withdrawal from the sport and that sentiment was echoed by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
These two supply power units to six of the ten teams, a strong bargaining position.
Attending the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 team announcement were two significant people – Jean Todt, president of the FIA and Chase Carey, chairman of F1’s owners.
Red Bull’s Christian Horner views the Alfa Romeo involvement in a different light.
He does not believe that Marchionne would not have brought Alfa Romeo into the sport if he intended Ferrari to leave in 2021.
He said: “I think it demonstrates that F1 is working and creating recognition, otherwise the group wouldn’t have brought the Alfa brand into the arena.”
He continued. “F1 needs Ferrari and Ferrari needs F1.”
Red Bull is looking at a replacement for the Renault power unit which has proved to be somewhat troublesome.
The junior team, Toro Rosso, have moved to Honda for next season and Red Bull will keep a close eye on the progress of the beleaguered Japanese F1 engine supplier.
But as of next season Red Bull will have Aston Martin as a title sponsor and thereby hangs a tale.
Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, is enthusiastic about the strong possibility of becoming an engine supplier from 2021 and has initiated the process.
Palmer appointed Luca Marmorini, former head of the engine and electronics department for Ferrari, to head up the team and he is now joined by another ex Maranello engine chief, Joerg Ross.
Ross takes up the position of power train chief.
With the proposed simplified engine the Warwickshire based manufacturer is certainly ensuring that the company will be at the forefront of future technology.
The decision regarding the company’s possible foray into F1 engine supply is dependent on the outcome of further meetings of interested parties and an acceptance of a final design.
Palmer has been surprised at the varying reactions from those already in the supply chain and those who are aspiring to become part of it. He said: “Everyone around the room accepted the sport is broken and that we need to bring back entertainment.
“The entertainment is about drivers racing, it’s not about the heat recovery on an engine.”
Amen to that, Mr Palmer.