Alfa Romeo announce an end to Sauber partnership at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign

Friday 26 August 2022

F1 | Alfa Romeo announce an end to Sauber partnership at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign

The Alfa Romeo F1 Team have announced that they are to end their partnership with Sauber Motorsport at the end of the 2023 season.

Alfa Romeo have today issued a statement saying they'll be leaving Sauber after six years together at the end of 2023: 

“Alfa Romeo communicates that its partnership with Sauber Motorsport will end within the end of 2023.

“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.”

The statement comes just hours after Audi announced its participation in Formula One in 2026. Launching a liveried show-car in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock this weekend, and cheekily posting, “Drivers wanted. Submit CV” on their social media account, the German based car company have officially registered as a power-unit manufacturer. In a recent statement Audi has indicated that they will supply power units to an existing team and not establish their own team, making further announcements at the end of this year.

Currently, neither Alfa Romeo nor Audi have made any links to each other, as the Italian based team will no doubt consider all options available and choose the best one for their long-term plan.

Alfa Romeo, have had a mixed season, suffering with frustrating retirements, and on the other hand enjoying points finishes that have highlighted the valuable asset Finnish driver, Valtteri Bottas is. Chinese driver, and Formula Two graduate, Zhou Guanyu, bounced back miraculously after a horrifying accident in Silverstone, and is impressing the paddock and neutral fans with his good form and smooth driving style. 

The team currently sits behind McLaren in P6 with 51 points in the Constructors' Championship; Bottas is in P9 with 46 points, and Zhou is in 17th with five, in the Drivers' Standings.