Formula One: Alfa Romeo returns to the sport with Sauber

Formula One will welcome back an old partner as Alfa Romeo will be seen aboard the cars for the Sauber F1 Team in 2018 and beyond.

It has been widely reported that the Fiat Chrysler Group, which includes current Formula One constructor Ferrari, has been looking for a way to get Alfa Romeo back into the world championship. Now, it appears the clover-leaf badged machines will be coming back to F1 in 2018. In a new commercial and technical partnership, the Sauber F1 Team will be renamed the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team beginning next season.

The new partnership between the backmarker team and Ferrari’s sister brand is part of an effort between the two to work more closely together. This tie-in could also include Sauber becoming the de facto junior team of Scuderia Ferrari, with development driver Charles Leclerc expected to take one of the two seats in 2018. The second seat appears to be a toss-up between current driver Marcus Ericsson and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Chairman of Ferrari Sergio Marchionne had this to say about Alfa Romeo returning to Formula One:

"“This agreement with the Sauber F1 team is a significant step in the reshaping of the Alfa Romeo brand, which will return to Formula 1 after an absence of more than 30 years. A storied marque that has helped make the history of this sport, Alfa Romeo will join other major automakers that participate in Formula 1. The brand itself will also benefit from the sharing of technology and strategic know-how with a partner of the Sauber F1 team’s undisputed experience.”"