Could Alfa Romeo Return to F1 Racing?

Alfa Romeo, which dropped out of Formula One racing at the end of the 1985 season, should consider returning, opines Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne.

He points out to Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport that FCA’s Alfa unit is still capable of building its own F1 chassis and engines. Reuters notes he also floated the possibility of an Alfa F1 team in a meeting with reporters in December.

Marchionne observes that a return to F1 would enhance Alfa’s sporting brand image. He opines the company might come back to the sport through a collaboration with Ferrari, which FCA spun off in January.

Reuters notes that the late Enzo Ferrari raced and managed an Alfa team before forming his own company. Alfa also won F1 championships in 1950 and 1951, supplied engines in the 1960s and 1970s and returned as a constructor in 1979-1985.