Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said that the car manufacturer "could bring the Alfa Romeo brand back to Formula One as a competitor to Ferrari," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. Marchionne, who is also Ferrari president, said, "It's incredible how the Alfa marque remains in people's hearts. For that very reason we are thinking about bringing it back, as our competitor, to racing, to Formula One. It's important for Alfa to return."
Ferrari's red cars "have carried Alfa Romeo branding already this season" (REUTERS, 12/14). FOX SPORTS' Will Dale wrote Fiat’s purchase of Alfa in the late '80s "signaled the marque’s exit from F1, with its new owners electing to avoid putting two of its key brands into direct conflict." If Alfa Romeo is to return, "it will not do so as a bespoke manufacturer; instead, it will be a branding exercise." In addition to Ferrari’s own works squad, the Scuderia’s engines "will power the cars of Sauber, Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso, and the new Haas squad during the 2016 championship." Any of these three squads "could conceivably race with its Ferrari engines rebranded as Alfa Romeo, should Fiat Chrysler press on with its plans" (FOX SPORTS, 12/15).
POWER STRUGGLE: The BBC's Andrew Benson wrote Ferrari said that it "could consider" its future in F1 if the rules change in ways it does not like. Marchionne said quitting was "possible but very, very unlikely," adding, "Ferrari would find other ways to express its ability to race and to win. Ferrari cannot be put in a corner on its knees and say nothing."
Marchionne's remarks "are the latest development in an ongoing power struggle in F1 between the road-car manufacturers on one side" and F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone and FIA President Jean Todt on the other (BBC, 12/15).
