At the start of the month, Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 announced they are changing their name to Alfa Romeo Racing. They dropped the Sauber name which brought up a lot of confusion since it’s still Sauber on the inside – the same constructors’ team, car, and management.
On one hand, Alfa Romeo is a name that’s a permanent part of the history of Formula 1. Seeing them back in the grid after 34 years of absence is refreshing. The new lineup of drivers – world champion Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari test driver Antonio Giovinazzi – is expected to pull the team into the middle of the pack.
On the other hand, the team is Alfa Romeo by name only. The F1 car will not use any components made by Alfa. And, it’s still going to use the Ferrari Turbo V6 engine. The management and headquarters will also remain in Switzerland at Sauber HQ.
So, aside from the new paint job and a set of drivers, we’re pretty much going to see the same Sauber we’re used to for the last 26 years.
Even though the news sparked a wave of mixed reactions, Alfa Romeo found it worthy of celeration. In fact, the company is launching the Alfa Romeo Racing special editions of the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
The cars will feature the Trofeo White/Competizione Red livery also worn by their F1 counterpart. The paint job is stunning and highlights the bodywork beautifully, drawing the most out of each design. The detailing includes carbon fiber on the mirrors, front grille, and side skirts. All windows will come tinted by default.
Inside, you’ll find a number of comfort features:
- Alcantara steering wheel with carbon fiber details
- Harmon Kardon audio system with a connection to your phone
- Mopar automatic gear selector and adaptive cruise control
Mechanically, the Alfa Romeo Racing versions of the Stelvio and Giulia will remain almost identical to the Quadrifoglios currently available. The special edition will add standard fit carbon ceramic brakes and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust.
Performance will remain the same. Both cars will still be driven by the same 2.9-liter, twin turbo V6 engine, producing 503 hp and 443 lbs/ft of torque. The engine is developed by Ferrari after its F154 modular V8 engine.
So, all Alfa Romeo high-performance vehicles turn out to be Ferrari powered. This is a little bit ironic, considering Alfa won the first two F1 seasons with impressive dominance and was an engine supplier for more than two decades.
That said, it’s nice to see Fiat Chrysler Automobiles putting an effort in reviving a brand that has more than a century-old history in racing.
