The Italian GP was the final dwelling race for the Milanese marque as its six-year relationship with Sauber approaches its conclusion. The event was celebrated with a particular livery that includes the Italian flag, whereas Alfa additionally used the weekend to unveil the brand new 33 Stradale, a mannequin that displays the sporty picture that its involvement in Grand Prix racing is meant to challenge.
The issue that the administration of Alfa and its dad or mum firm Stellantis now face is, ‘how will we comply with that?’
There’s little doubt that the Sauber deal was a golden ticket for Alfa. Initially conceived by the late Fiat Chrysler Cars and Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne, the deal noticed Alfa as title sponsor of Sauber for a single season in 2018, earlier than the corporate took over the total crew and chassis identify from 2019, for what was in impact a cut price worth.
Automobile producers have sponsored F1 groups earlier than, notably Infiniti and Aston Martin with Red Bull Racing, however bagging the crew and automobile id was one thing completely different. It was an inexpensive deal as a result of when it was negotiated in 2017 the Hinwil crew was final within the constructors’ championship by some margin, and it didn’t have too many alternatives. Alfa introduced not simply much-needed money however was additionally an attractive model that may, in idea, enchantment to different sponsors and even to potential drivers.
It labored brilliantly for Alfa, who loved a high-profile foothold in F1 for a fraction of the price of growing its personal energy unit or subsidising a full works challenge. Within the early years, Alfa even had a declare on one of many seats, reserving it for a Ferrari protégé. Charles Leclerc took it initially, and subsequently, Antonio Giovinazzi was nominated.
Then final yr got here Audi’s buy of Sauber. After a single season in 2023 to complete out the contract it was untenable for Alfa to stay concerned with Sauber for the 2 remaining interim years earlier than full Audi id comes alongside in 2026. It merely made no sense for Audi to put money into build up the Swiss organisation and have a rival model take pleasure in the advantages, albeit quickly.
For Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, who moved sideways from Peugeot initially of 2021 when Stellantis was created, the lack of the Sauber deal by circumstances past his management was clearly disappointing.
Alfa Romeo celebrated its final dwelling grand prix with a particular livery on the Italian GP
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“On the finish of the day it is a query of [Sauber’s] shareholders,” says the 55-year-old. “And our job is to not have any form of I’d say private feeling in respect of the choice, no emotion when it comes to enterprise.
“The shareholders took a call, and the minimal is that we respect the choice, and by the way in which, we help the choice. So the choice was made to make a enterprise transfer. Who can say one thing on that? No one.
“My mission when it comes to Alfa Romeo is to adapt Alfa Romeo’s programme of electrification to any such choice. So no frustration, however whenever you work with any person for years in as wonderful an out of doors self-discipline as F1, it is completely regular that you’re a human being, and you might be related with the fellows.
“If you’re not human at Alfa Romeo, you might be {dead}. We agree on that as properly. So no frustration. While you current the automobile just like the 33 Stradale, you see the frustration doesn’t exist, we’re aggressive, and we need to win. So we’ve to search out the subsequent step, and we’re engaged on it.”
“You’ve on one aspect the affordable degree of funding that we share as a result of it is at all times a query of respect for not solely the shareholders but in addition with our individuals” Jean-Philippe Imparato
Imparato won’t have initiated the unique Sauber deal however he’s loved the fruits of it for the previous three years, and he’s properly conscious how good it has been for his firm.
“For me, that is one of the best ROI [return on investment] ever within the paddock,” he says. “It’s totally clear for Alfa Romeo, due to the enterprise mannequin that was, by the way in which, conceived by Sergio Marchionne. And we keep in mind that at all times.
“We take into account with [Stellantis CEO] Carlos Tavares that we’ve one of the best enterprise mannequin when it comes to F1, and I’d say in all probability sponsorship motorsport construction ever. By way of any such enterprise mannequin for Alfa Romeo when it comes to funding, and the return on funding, it’s one of the best ever. And I do not overlook that.”
Alfa Romeo has made the many of the advertising alternatives offered by its involvement in F1
Picture by: Alfa Romeo
What Marchionne couldn’t have predicted when he introduced the Alfa identify again to F1 was the expansion that grand prix racing has skilled over the previous couple of years, and from which the Italian marque has benefited when it comes to publicity.
“You’ve all of the planets aligned on this story,” says Imparato. “As a result of since 2019, you may have as properly the improbable job made by FIA and Formulation One Administration on the circuit. So you may have on one aspect the affordable degree of funding that we share as a result of it is at all times a query of respect for not solely the shareholders but in addition with our individuals.
“Generally when you find yourself in disaster someplace on this planet how will you clarify to your individuals that you’re paying each month, that you just spend lots of of hundreds of thousands on an exercise, that may be a sponsorship?
“So the affordable degree of funding, with a improbable job completed by FIA and Formulation One Administration with Stefano Domenicali, you may have the highest line up, and you’ve got the fee management. When you may have that, you may have one of the best ROI ever. That is what we lived.”
Imparato’s job now could be to search out one thing that may exchange the Sauber deal. He’s adamant that the model ought to proceed in motorsport in some kind.
“We’re learning I’d say all of the alternatives we’ve in entrance of us on the desk,” he says. “I had initially forecasted to talk out in July 2023, I did not try this, as a result of I am not prepared.
“I am very clear. Once I’m prepared, you can be the primary one to learn on the subsequent step, as a result of we essentially have a subsequent step. As a matter of respect for Alfa Romeo, and as a matter I’d say of being strong when it comes to place, and I do not need to play with the positioning of the model, I do not go public if I am not 100% positive that I’m doing one thing that’s Positive for the model and the group. So we’re working rather a lot.
The worth of Alfa Romeo’s Sauber deal has elevated considerably because it was first signed
Picture by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images
“Are we prepared? No. Will we need to exit from motorsport? No. Do I’ve the answer now? No. Can I spend, and do I need to spend, lots of of hundreds of thousands? No. As a result of on the similar time, I’ve to finance the electrification of the model. And I’d say that it is fully mad to spend lots of of hundreds of thousands if I am not, I’d say, in an ideal enterprise mannequin. So that is what we’re doing.
“Once I see the world shifting now, with the evolution of the market, the electrification tempo, the software program tempo, the offensive from some rivals, they are saying, ‘Wow, I am blissful to not have a form of cash-out dedication to anyone on this planet, from January 1 2024.’
“What we all know is that on the final grand prix, we are going to cry, that is completely positive. However we are going to cry defending one of the best property of the corporate, each Sauber, who exhibits the way in which, and Alfa Romeo, that is completely positive.”
“Let’s come again to one thing that Carlos Tavares informed me. Nothing could be completed with no Ferrari engine. In order that’s it” Jean-Philippe Imparato
It’s apparent that with Sauber off-limits there is just one place for Alfa Romeo to be if it needs to remain in F1, and that’s Haas. Nevertheless, whichever approach you have a look at it, such a deal could be a backwards step. The issue is that Gene Haas is in F1 to advertise his personal model so he won’t ever hand over his chassis or crew identify, and he already has a strong title sponsor in MoneyGram.
There’s in idea an choice for the crew to turn into MoneyGram Alfa Romeo Haas or some related mixture, however that may clearly signify a retreat from what the corporate has in the mean time, with a full crew and automobile id. There would even be no technical cooperation of the type that noticed Sauber assist with the event of Alfa GTA and GTAm highway automobiles, and which has helped to justify the affiliation.
It’s understood from sources that discussions with Haas haven’t formally ended, and in essence, it’s as much as Alfa to determine what it needs to do.
“I can not talk about that, by no means,” says Imparato. “However let’s come again to one thing that Carlos Tavares informed me. Nothing could be completed with no Ferrari engine. In order that’s it. I can not remark or add any assertion on something to that.
“The one factor that’s positive is that I’ll respect the steering from my boss. The boss is Carlos, and we stated that nothing is feasible with no Ferrari engine for Alfa Romeo. And if I have been to precise myself on that matter, I’d say precisely the identical for the model positioning of our Alfa Romeo. Alfa Romeo is Italian, so there isn’t a query.”
Hanging a take care of Haas could possibly be Alfa Romeo’s solely choice if the marque is to stay within the F1 paddock
Picture by: Erik Junius
If not F1, the place might the Alfa identify go? Imperato has an apparent curiosity in sportscar racing, a class with which Alfa was strongly related within the 60s and 70s. He makes it clear that the arrival of Ferrari within the WEC has made it a extra engaging proposition.
“I want to spotlight two issues,” he says. “I believe that in case you evaluate the ROI of WEC 2023 towards 2021 – you realize precisely why, there may be one cause, and I cannot touch upon this cause. However there may be one cause why in case you evaluate the WEC at Monza, 2021, to WEC in Monza and 2023, the attractiveness, the worth of the WEC is robust.
“Secondly, you see with the 33 Stradale the reference to between Alfa Romeo and the WEC. So, I believe that deserves to be studied very intently.”
Increasing on the WEC he provides: “You keep in mind that one of many manufacturers of Stellantis Group [Peugeot] exited from Le Mans, at one level of time saying that till you come again to one thing affordable, we won’t anymore be with you guys. The consequence was very Positive as a result of now they arrive again to one thing affordable and the OEMs are again, clearly, you see.”
Whereas as famous an F1 involvement must contain Ferrari, in WEC Alfa Romeo has a possible various path through some type of collaboration with sister firm Peugeot, as Imparato makes clear.
“I at all times work with the property of Stellantis Motorsport,” he says. “We talk about Stellantis property solely, at all times. I am not going public for the long run plans, as a result of I need to discover a form of enterprise mannequin that’s I’d say attention-grabbing. The reply is a improbable enterprise mannequin, excellent ROI.
“However once I let you know one thing, I’ll let you know one thing for 3 years, 5 years. I do not need to come again to a six-month funding. No, we are going to do it severely, I hope. I’m learning every little thing. However we are going to make the selection based mostly on one of the best ROI, and one of the best reference to the previous of Alfa Romeo.
“I do not see Alfa Romeo in WRC, even when I like WRC and even when, by the way in which, I used to be supporting Sebastien Loeb. I cannot go in rally even when with one other model, I used to be very concerned in that. There isn’t a sense, that is apparent.
Ought to an F1 exit transpire, WEC is an alternate choice to maintain Alfa Romeo in prime degree motorsport
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Images
“However I do not need to exit from motorsport, that is it. Even when I’m actually challenged by my boss, I am as properly closely supported, as a result of he is mad about motorsport. And we’re mad about motorsport. We’re a bit schizophrenic in a approach!”
Imparato makes it clear that as a lot as he loves F1, the general success of the Alfa model is the larger image.
“My coronary heart is at Alfa Romeo,” he says. “And Alfa Romeo P&L [profit and loss] should be aligned with the ambition of Alfa Romeo as a result of in the future I’ll depart. And the day once I depart, I need three issues.
“One, you recognise the standard of the automobiles. Second, I depart one thing within the museum in Arese as a reminder of the previous, and constructing the long run. Third, that Alfa Romeo is sustainable. These are the three missions that I’ve. All the remaining is private.”
Solely time will inform whether or not the Alfa Romeo model will stay within the F1 paddock
Picture by: Erik Junius