F1: Alfa Romeo extends deal with Sauber for 2023

According to Reuters on Friday, Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato revealed the deal to extend for the 2023 season has now been agreed.

“I have signed the renewal for 2023 this morning,” Imparato said.

“Every year in July we assess the situation. If in the future we realize we are not interested any more [in F1] or we don’t have returns on our investments, we’ll see what to do.

“But everything will be done in an orderly way.”

“I think I have the best return on investment on earth,” he said. “That can be surprising. But I repeat that: I think we have the most return on investment on earth.

“We invented with our colleagues from Sauber a new business model where there is a dual governance between us. We know perfectly, we say that Frederic [Vasseur] is managing the team since the beginning, and we did not derail, even if we lived some difficult times.

“As Alfa, I’m supporting them and activating everything I can in order to support that development. The step was for me, we have to progress year on year, race after race, even if we are struggling in some cases, and that’s it.”

Alfa Romeo will make way for Audi in 2026

Sauber has been linked with a possible buyout by Audi as part of its plans to join the grid, but Imparato was not concerned about any interest in the team.

“Each and every year we will make the point, we will decide for the next year,” he said.

“I’m not part of a long-term lock-in commitment on anything, doing five years perhaps, etc. So to be clear, any negotiation on the engine, any negotiation and anything in terms of partnership is led by Fred Vasseur and Sauber, in the best interests of Sauber.

“The best interests of Alfa Romeo is to have the return on investment each and every year, and the progress in terms of performance each and every year. That’s it.

“The rest is completely, I would say, separate.”