The first day of the Belgian GP is having as much prominence off the track as expected on the asphalt. This morning Audi made the open secret of its entry into F1 official in 2026, but instead of announcing that it would join Sauber , as expected, they presented only one project as an engine manufacturer in the face of future unit rules. power.
Sauber has been operating the Alfa Romeo team since 2018, and a few hours after the arrival of Audi, the Italian manufacturer announced that it will only extend its partnership with Sauber until the end of 2023, that is, that the Italian firm will separate from the Swiss at the end of the year. next year.
The statement reads as follows: “Alfa Romeo announces that its partnership with Sauber Motorsport will end at the end of 2023.”
“Alfa Romeo announced its return to F1 in 2017 with a long-term plan, and in July 2022 it announced the decision to continue its partnership with Sauber also for 2023, given the promising results of the first half of the season, both in terms of performance as well as marketing and a positive collaboration with the team.
“Given the brand’s economic and industrial turnaround in 2022, Alfa Romeo will now assess among the many opportunities on the table and decide which one will best sustain the long-term strategy and brand positioning.”
The statement does not clarify whether the separation from Sauber means that Alfa Romeo is going to leave Formula 1, although it seems clear that, since they did not think in the long term and that they will not hurry up with Sauber until 2025 (the last year before the arrival of Audi ), they will leave the category.
One option would be to go on to name another team, the most obvious choice being Haas, which also runs Ferrari engines. And beyond the doubt of what Alfa Romeo will do from 2023, there is the question of whether in 2024 and 2025 Sauber will give its team its name and colors again or if, when they sign with Audi, the signing of the rings will advance its arrival (at least in terms of colors and denomination) grilled.
Speaking to Motorsport.com earlier this year, Alfa Romeo chief executive Jean-Philippe Imparato had said the alliance with Sauber had been a great success for his company.
And he was serene about the arrival of Audi: “We will not change Alfa Romeo’s business model. If one day someone changes, we will make the decision we have to make, but that’s it. Really, without stress. We have many spaces to play. When you are a brand like Alfa Romeo, with 112 years of history, the world is open to you.”
