The 2021 Formula One World Championship season will see Alfa Romeo and Sauber Motorsport continue working together. The two companies have been working in Formula One since 2018, when Alfa Romeo joined the team as their title sponsor.
The successful partnership has seen the team finish the championship in eighth position twice and they hope to be able to repeat this again this season.
In celebration of the announcement, Alfa Romeo will unveil an exclusive livery for the C39 car at this weekend’s Grand Prix at Imola, being a fitting venue for both Alfa Romeo and Italian motorsport. The livery has been designed by Centro Stile and will display the Italian flag in a straight flash on the upper section of the engine cover and on the rear wing end plate. The exclusive logo for the 110th anniversary of Alfa Romeo appears in a prominent position on the engine cover, alongside the wording “Welcome back, Imola”.
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN and CEO Sauber Motorsport AG commented:
“The extension of our relationship with Alfa Romeo is a true statement of intent from both parties. In Sauber, Alfa Romeo found a committed, performance-driven partner to which they could entrust their brand: we are honoured to carry the heritage and past success of Alfa Romeo in our name. Both parties always intended for this relationships to bear fruit in the long term: we have laid some solid foundations in the last three season and we aim to reap the rewards of this work in 2021 and beyond.”
Mike Manley, CEO FCA said:
“Racing and performance are at the core of Alfa Romeo’s DNA. The brand was practically born on a racetrack and today we continue to compete at the most technologically advanced level of motorsport. The partnership with Sauber also allows our customers to benefit from exclusive racing know-how, as it is the case of the all-new Giulia GTA and GTAm, which incorporate Sauber Engineering’s technical input particularly as it relates to advanced aerodynamics.”
The team has also announced the renewal of Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi’s contracts for the 2021 season. Giovinazzi has been instrumental in the development of the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN team, performing strongly and consistently during his first two seasons and establishing himself as one of the best starters off the grid, gaining several positions at every race.
Commenting about his renewed contract, Giovinazzi said:
“Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN has been my home in Formula One for the last two seasons and I am happy this relationship can continue for one more year. The team has put a lot of faith in me and I have done my best to repay this confidence with hard work and commitment: we have achieved some good results and I feel we have done my part to make the team progress, but the road ahead is still long and there is much more we want to achieve together. There will be a lot of continuity between this season and the next one, so everything we work on between now and the end of the year will already count for next, and we are ready to give it all we have.”
Kimi Räikkönen is not only one of the oldest and most experienced but also one of the most popular drivers in Formula One, with a loyal following. He does most of his talking on the track, but his technical feedback and impressive sensitivity have been a valuable contribution to the team over the last two seasons. He commented:
“Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN is more than a team to me, it is like a second family. So many of the faces that were around me when I made my Formula One debut in 2001 are still here and the unique atmosphere of this team is what gives me that extra motivation to keep going in what will be my 19th season in the sport, next year. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in the team’s project and in what we feel we can achieve together. This is a team that values hard work over words and this fits well with my style: I am looking forward to next year and hopefully making some steps forward towards the front of the midfield with the team.”
This announcement of the two drivers staying together next season, highlights the team’s commitment to continuity, with Räikkönen and Giovinazzi making for a solid and well-matched driver line-up that gives a healthy mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man Behind The Wheel, a member of The Guild of Motoring Writers, professional photographer and former saloon car racing driver.
Photographs courtesy of Alfa Romeo
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