Formula One
Alfa will cut and run from F1 at the end of next season, meaning an Audi/Sauber deal is surely close
Published: 26 Aug 2022
Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
In a rather short statement following the news that Audi will join F1 in 2026, Alfa Romeo has announced that it will leave the sport and cut ties with Sauber at the end of the 2023 season.
“Alfa Romeo communicates that its partnership with Sauber Motorsport will end within the end of 2023,” the company said.
Advertisem*nt - Page continues below
“Alfa Romeo announced its return in F1 in 2017 with a long term plan, and in July 2022 has announced the decision to continue its partnership with Sauber also for 2023, given to the promising results of the first half of the season, both in terms of performances, marketing and positive collaboration with the team.
“Since the economic and industrial turnaround of the brand will be achieved in 2022, Alfa Romeo will now evaluate among the many opportunities on the table, and decide which will be the best one to sustain the long term strategy and the positioning of the brand.”
There have of course been strong rumours linking Audi with a takeover of the Sauber team in order to give the VW Group behemoth its full works entry in 2026.
If this is all true, what will happen for Sauber in the resulting two-year gap is anyone’s guess, and TG for one will be sad to see Alfa Romeo leave the sport.
Advertisem*nt - Page continues below
So, for all the other Alfa fans out there, here’s a pic of Valtteri Bottas turning up for the Belgian Grand Prix first practice session earlier today at Spa. Should take your minds off the bad news for a few moments at least…
Top Gear
Newsletter
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
FAQs
Alfa Romeo was signed on as the main title sponsor of the team, as well as technical and commercial partners. That partnership, which began in 2019, expired at the end of the 2023 season, with Sauber now confirming Alfa Romeo will not return for 2024.
Is the Alfa Romeo F1 last year 2023? ›
Alfa Romeo faced challenges in recapturing its early-season form in 2023, securing only 16 points throughout the year. Consequently, Valtteri Bottas finished the drivers' championship in 15th place, a decline of five positions from 2022, and Zhou Guanyu secured the 18th position in both seasons.
Why is Alfa Romeo quitting F1? ›
Alfa Romeo seemed to be hoping for a deal they had with Sauber in recent years, but that agreement does not match the current market value in F1 and the negotiations ultimately came to nothing.
What will happen to Alfa Romeo F1 in 2026? ›
Latest. Sauber will be rebranded as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber for the 2024 Formula 1 campaign, following the departure of their title sponsor Alfa Romeo. The Swiss team will operate under this banner for the next two seasons before rebranding as Audi in 2026 when they become the German manufacturer's works squad.
Will Alfa Romeo survive F1? ›
Alfa Romeo is reportedly looking to join forces with a different F1 team in 2024 after its spilt from Sauber. According to Motorsport.com in Italy, the Italian brand will go from the Swiss-based team to Haas from next season.
Who will replace Alfa Romeo in F1 2024? ›
It's all change at the team managed by Sauber in 2024, with their previous Alfa Romeo partnership coming to an end after five seasons. Arriving in its place is a new identity – Kick Sauber – ahead of Audi making the outfit their works operation for the 2026 rule changes.
Will Alfa Romeo be in F1 in 2024? ›
Formula 1 2024: Sauber confirm new team name for next season after Alfa Romeo departure. Alfa Romeo is no more in terms of a Formula 1 team name after the Sauber-run outfit confirmed their own name will return to the team's title for 2024.
What will replace Alfa Romeo F1? ›
Sauber will run under the name 'Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber' for the 2024 and 2025 F1 seasons.
Who will take over Alfa Romeo F1? ›
The end of Alfa Romeo's time in Formula 1 has led to a complete rebranding of the Sauber-run constructor to become Stake F1 Team. Stake will be the title partner for the next two seasons ahead of Audi's arrival in F1, with the betting, entertainment and lifestyle brand taking over exclusive naming rights.
Who is Audi replacing? ›
What will the Audi-run F1 team be called? With its stake in the F1 team set to be reduced to zero, its likely that the historic Sauber moniker — which made its first appearance on an F1 grid in 1993 — will be fully replaced by Audi in 2026.
Alfa Romeo, which has lost its naming rights to the Sauber team for 2024, says it's looking at other motorsports options after briefly considering alignment with Haas. Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imperato says he turned down the opportunity to keep the Italian carmaker's name in Formula 1 for 2024.
Why did Ferrari leave Alfa Romeo? ›
Enzo Ferrari left Alfa Romeo due to a disagreement over the direction of the company's racing department. Despite the success of the Scuderia Ferrari racing team, which was sponsored by Alfa Romeo, Enzo felt that the company was not fully committed to racing and wanted to strike out on his own.
Is Ford joining F1 in 2026? ›
Ford announces return to Formula One for 2026, partners with Red Bull. NEW YORK -- Ford has confirmed it will return to Formula One in 2026 as it joins forces with world champions Red Bull. The American automotive giant announced its return to the sport on Friday morning at Red Bull's launch event in New York.
Is AlphaTauri leaving F1? ›
AlphaTauri will emerge from the Formula 1 winter break with an all-new team name after the decision was made to undergo a rebranding to RB ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Why is it called kick sauber? ›
The Sauber Group has agreed a branding deal with sponsor Stake, under which the team has appeared on the official FIA F1 entry list for 2024 as Stake F1 Team. Its chassis is called a 'Kick Sauber', referring to another brand which shares ownership with Stake.
Who is leaving F1 in 2023? ›
The 2023 F1 grid is finally settled. We've said goodbye to Sebastian Vettel, Mick Schumacher and Daniel Ricciardo, but welcome Logan Sargeant and Oscar Piastri as rookies and Nico Hülkenberg returns after two seasons away.
Is Alfa Romeo being replaced in F1? ›
The end of Alfa Romeo's time in Formula 1 has led to a complete rebranding of the Sauber-run constructor to become Stake F1 Team.
