Is Alfa Romeo Set to Exit Formula One? Reports Say So

According to a report from the Italian media, Alfa Romeo could walk away from Sauber and Formula 1 at the end of 2020.

The Italian car manufacturer became the title sponsor of the Sauber team in 2018. Earlier this year, they expanded that relationship and became their own entity.

The outfit entered into a technical and commercial partnership with Sauber, and then became known as Alfa Romeo Racing.

In fact, F1 journalist Joe Saward told F1sport.it: “Alfa Romeo is not doing very well on the automotive market and it’s considered unlikely that the partnership will continue after 2020.

“The team’s results this year have been rather disappointing and it seems nobody really agrees with the others, despite them all smiling when the cameras are around.”

He even said that Sauber were not particularly thrilled at the idea of being a Ferrari satellite team. In fact, the Hinwil-based team had been in talks with Honda over a customer deal. This would have been an inspired choice as the Japanese engine supplier have powered Red Bull to two wins this season.

According to Saward, Honda may still be keen on entering a relationship with Sauber should Alfa Romeo walk away. However, he says it “wouldn’t be the same kind of relationship that had been discussed before Sauber’s decision to team up with Ferrari.”

Speaking of Alfa Romeo, the team had a fairly strong start, but their performance has waned. It has got to a point where they are only just ahead of Haas F1. The American team are a mere 7 points behind them and there is every chance of them catching up.

However, Alfa Romeo Racing boss Frédéric Vasseur isn’t too worried by his team’s recent lack of results.

“There’s no need to panic, each time it’s a different scenario,” he told Motorsport.com.

“I would be very worried if we were one second off in quali, but it’s not the story. The race might be difficult to manage, but it’s more easy to find the pace in the race than in quali.”

“In Spa for example we were P5 in Turn 1, in Monza we were in Q3. Sometimes for one tenth, plus or minus, you can have the feeling that the situation is completely different. We always have to be very careful with this.”