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Formula One: Could Alfa Romeo make a comeback with Sauber?

By Alex Herbst

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - MARCH 08: An Alfa Romeo logo detail is seen during the 87th Geneva International Motor Show on March 8, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. The International Motor Show showcase novelties of the car industry. (Photo by Harold Cunningham/Getty Images)
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - MARCH 08: An Alfa Romeo logo detail is seen during the 87th Geneva International Motor Show on March 8, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. The International Motor Show showcase novelties of the car industry. (Photo by Harold Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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With Sauber staying put with Ferrari for 2018, could the Italian marque’s long sought-after dream to bring Alfa Romeo back to Formula One come true?

The Formula One offseason ahead of the 2018 campaign could be one of the more exciting in recent years. A number of up-and-coming rides remain open, including at Williams and Sauber. The latter of these teams made an aborted move to Honda for next year, opting instead to stick with Ferrari. And it is that move that could see the perennial backmarker become the Italian marque’s new junior operation.

As reported by Motorsport.com, Ferrari chief Sergio Marchionne could relabel Sauber’s 2018 engine package under sister brand Alfa Romeo. It would be a move years in the making, one Marchionne has long sought. Bringing the clover emblem back to F1 racing would mark the first time since 1988 as an engine supplier. But the connections to the Ferrari team may not stop there for Sauber.

With both seats at the Sauber F1 team still unannounced for the coming year, many expect that Charles Leclerc, one of Ferrari’s biggest up and coming stars, will race for the team in 2018. Pascal Wehrlein would appear to be on the outside looking in. Marcus Ericsson could also be pushed out of the team, but stronger ownership support could keep him around for another year.

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Marchionne previously said this about the possibilities of Alfa Romeo back in Formula One:

"“Alfa Romeo in F1 could become a fine breeding ground for young Italian drivers. The best one, Giovinazzi, is already with us, but there are others besides him, and they are struggling to find room. Alfa Romeo, more than our customer teams, could offer them that space.”"

The move to bring Alfa Romeo back to F1 would certainly require a boost in funding toward the brand, though they already have invested heavily in North American advertising. The car company is one of the biggest sponsors of studio programming for MLB and college basketball telecasts, based on Turner and ESPN telecasts. However, bringing them back into racing would also put them head-to-head with familiar competition in the marketplace, like Aston Martin and Infiniti.

Next: Building a F1 Broadcast Team for ESPN

Would you like to see the Alfa Romeo name back in Formula One in 2018? Regardless of Ferrari’s decision, who would you like to see driving for the Sauber F1 team in the next year?

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