The CEO of Alfa Romeo is not worried about a potential takeover of Sauber’s team by Audi – “We as a brand have so many opportunities “
Audi will enter Formula 1 from 2026 after the VW Group’s special advisory board gave the green light to the planned entry of Audi and sister brand Porsche. Porsche is ready to link up with Red Bull through a new factory partnership. Audi’s future plans are less clear.
A number of options are currently being examined. For example, the Ingolstadt-based brand has been linked to possible takeovers of or partnerships with McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin. But Sauber, who run the Alfa Romeo team, has now emerged as the most likely option.
The Alfa Romeo name only returned to Formula One in 2019, when the company became Sauber’s title partner in a deal that has been renewed every year since. However, Alfa Romeo has no stake in the team itself, leaving the door open for a potential Audi involvement.
Alfa CEO remains deeply relaxed
CEO of Alfa Romeo, Audi’s interest but said it would not change his brand’s approach or business model for Formula One.
“I have to say I’m not completely blind,” Imparato said when asked about Audi’s interest. “But it’s simple for me. We are not going to change our business model. If one day somebody makes an attempt, whatever it is, we will make the decision we have to make. “
He is not worried or stressed about it: “I have so many options. When you are a brand like Alfa Romeo that has been around for 112 years, the world is open to us. “
Much profit for less investment
“We have a positive history in terms of business,” Imparato points out. “The year 2021 was profitable for Alfa Romeo for the first time in years. So there is really no stress. I’m absolutely not scared, anxious or even worried about the discussions I’ve heard in the paddock.”
Even though Alfa Romeo enjoys full naming rights to the Formula One team, it does not invest as much as other manufacturers. No wonder, then, that Imparato enthuses that the nature of the partnership with Sauber offers him “the best return on investment in the world”.
“We have invented a new business model with our colleagues at Sauber, where there is dual leadership between us,” he explains. “Frederic has led the team from the beginning and we have stayed in our lane, even though we have had some difficult times.”
“We haven’t moved because we don’t change strategy every morning. As Alfa, I support it and do everything I can to drive that development. The approach for me has been that we have to progress year after year, race after race, even if we struggle sometimes. “