Formula 1
Why Alfa Romeo is not interested in long term Formula 1 ‘lock in’
Alfa Romeo may be buoyed by its Formula 1 team’s progress, and delighted with the championship’s carbon neutral push, but one key aspect of its involvement is not changing.
Jonathan Noble Luke Smith
Edited: Aug 11, 2022, 7:28 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ever since it first teamed up for a partnership with the Sauber team in 2018, Alfa Romeo has always been adamant that its ongoing relationship would be decided with yearly assessments.
In spite of the value and interest around Alfa Romeo and F1 being greater than ever, and other manufacturers knocking on the door to get in (Audi even with Sauber), there is no evidence that the Italian marque will break from its plan.
Alfa Romeo’s CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato says that while the partnership is delivering huge value for the brand, he is still happy to maintain a degree of flexibility.
“I will decide 2023 with our colleagues in the coming weeks,” he tells Motorsport.com. “The question for us is not to plan at five years today.
“We are, I think, on this 2023 project and, as you know, we signed with our colleagues a very clear, transparent, long-term partnership with yearly assessments. So I’m totally comfortable on any aspect of this assessment.
“Each and every year we will make the point, and we will decide for the next year. I’m not part of a long-term lock-in commitment on anything, of doing five years perhaps.
“So, to be clear, any negotiation on the engine, any negotiation and anything in terms of partnership is led by Fred Vasseur and Sauber, in the best interests of Sauber.
“The best interests of Alfa Romeo is to have the return on investment each and every year, and the progress in terms of performance each and every year. That’s it. The rest is completely, I would say, separate.”
Jean Philippe Imparato, Brand CEO, Alfa Romeo
Photo by: Jean Philippe Imparato
Imparato’s stance is at odds with other car makers who are wedded to F1 for the long term.
But equally the Frenchman is not used to doing things in a conventional manner – as he represents the only car maker in F1 happy (in fact delighted) to only have naming rights to a team rather than own the squad itself or build an engine.
“I think I have the best return on investment on earth,” he smiles. “That can be surprising. But we invented with our colleagues from Sauber a new business model that is there is a dual governance between us.”
F1’s carbon neutral push
All automotive manufacturers are facing challenging times amid the switch over to electric cars, which is proving hugely expensive.
And while F1 has vowed to go carbon neutral, it is very much pushing down a future with the internal combustion engine – albeit powered by sustainable fuel.
Imparato does not see a clash of philosophies between electric road cars and net zero engines in F1 though – as he thinks they can sit very happily alongside each other.
He believes there will be much to gain for F1 by it leading the way in its carbon neutral stance.
“The fuel, and respecting the environment, is at the core of the transformation of Formula 1. I’m convinced of that,” he said.
“Afterwards, I don’t know what will be the pace, the reasons, the event, but I know that they are on it, and they are working on it.
“So each time everybody is working on something that is positive towards carbon-neutral, it’s good news for me.”
Read Also:
- Alfa Romeo "not blind" to Audi’s interest in Sauber F1 team
- How 2023 F1 floor changes will help limit porpoising issues
- Why Williams wants nothing more than a boring F1 practice in France
He added: “Motorsport is always a forerunner and you will see that motorsport will drive the change, probably faster than everybody else, as always.
“We can argue, discuss, shout, but at one point of time, we are racers. At one point of time, the target is clear that everybody is racing to be the first, and it will be the case as well for that.”
But while F1’s sustainable fuels avenue has prompted talk of the possibility of the switch to electric cars slowing down from current timetables, Imparato insists there is no going back for his company.
“I think the decisions are made,” he said. “The industry goes EV in 2035, and when you set a bar like that, it means you stop investing now, and you stop ICE in 2030 more or less. So it will be a race at who will be the first to be at zero.
“There is no compromise, and there is no, for me, plan B. Because our kids will not accept that we will push the limits of the emissions on CO2. It’s a matter of ethics.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Haas F1: Schumacher isolated from ‘unrest’ stirred up by outsiders
Next article Zhou doing "perfect job" as Alfa Romeo considers 2023 F1 driver line-up
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Latest news
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 30 min
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
Why NASCAR is not penalizing Stenhouse, McDowell for post-race theatrics
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
1 h
Why NASCAR is not penalizing Stenhouse, McDowell for post-race theatrics
Dale Jr. explains why he doesn't use 'Earnhardt' in his signature
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 2 h
Dale Jr. explains why he doesn't use 'Earnhardt' in his signature
NASCAR to allow brake rotor and pad changes after Phoenix qualifying
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
3 h
NASCAR to allow brake rotor and pad changes after Phoenix qualifying
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe