Alfa Romeo will be staying in F1 after extending deal with Sauber

partnership with Sauber will continue for another few seasons, with the Italian car manufacturer continuing to invest into the Swiss team.

The Alfa Romeo/Sauber contract was up for renewal at the end of the 2021 season, but both parties have agreed terms to continue the partnership that grants Alfa Romeo naming rights over the Sauber team.

The new medium-term deal allows both sides to continue working together, with a statement from the F1 team reading, “This will allow the two parties to develop their vision for the future in a stable environment, enabling Sauber Motorsport and Alfa Romeo to work on growing their success both on and off the track.”

Having rejoined Formula 1 in 2018 with Sauber, Alfa Romeo have solidified their position in the midfield with drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi. The team are yet to confirm their driver line-up for 2022, the start of a new regulatory cycle which the team say represents a huge opportunity for them to make a big step forward.

“We are delighted to be announcing the extension of this partnership,” said Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur.

“Alfa Romeo have been an incredible companion over the last few years, and we are even more excited about the chapters that are yet to come.

“The new regulations are giving us the chance to make another step forward and I firmly believe we are perfectly placed to make big gains together. We are looking forward to the next three seasons together and to keeping moving towards the front of the grid.

“This relationship is also very important for our company as a whole, beyond the track: the work we have done in the automotive world has shown the extent of the technology and manufacturing skills of Sauber Engineering and we are confident we can continue working for Alfa Romeo on new and exciting projects that will shape the future of the car industry.”

Now under the Stellantis umbrella, Alfa Romeo has already begun positioning itself for an electric future on the roadcar front, and claims that Formula 1 represents the best testing ground for this technology shift.

“Alfa Romeo is now writing its future and designing its long-term plan,” said a team statement.

“With a very distinctive and inspiring Italian heritage, the Brand will remain true to its roots even through the paradigm shift that electrification represents. The pleasure of the driver and passion will remain at the centre, but electrification will give the Brand the opportunity to redesign sustainable performance.

“The brand’s presence in Motorsport, and in particular in F1, will continue to play a key role in the future, always interpreted with a feeling of Italian noble sportiness, the Alfa Romeo DNA from 1910.

“F1 is the ultimate laboratory of change, and therefore a key territory for Alfa Romeo on its path-to-electrification, with its pioneering Hybrid Strategy, sustainable technology and endless pursuit of efficiency. On top of that, it is a crucial global marketing platform.”