Alfa Romeo will stay in motorsport, yet to decide on F1

MONZA, Italy : Alfa Romeo will stay in motorsport but has yet to decide on Formula One after the partnership with Sauber expires at the end of the year, chief executive Jean-Philippe Imparato said at the Italian Grand Prix.

The Frenchman told Reuters that the Stellantis brand, whose car offering will be 100 per cent electric in 2027, was still considering options.

Swiss-based Sauber will become the Audi factory team from 2026, with the Volkswagen-owned brand taking an initial stake in January.

"I had forecast to speak in July to you all on the next step but for the moment I don’t have the solution," Imparato said in an interview after the new Alfa 33 Stradale limited edition supercar was shown off in the Monza pitlane.

"I feel that I must stay in motorsport and I will stay in motorsport. That is what I want.

"We will look for coherence. We don’t want to be stupid for Stellantis. We don’t want to be full (in) for Alfa Romeo. And we don’t want to exit from motorsport. I will not go to Rally Raid and I will not go on WRC (world rally) for obvious reasons for the story of Alfa Romeo.

"I will come back when I think we are pretty solid, we have a business plan that is not a one shot. Sustainable, solid, Italian. Not necessarily electrified, that’s not my point."

Imparato's comments appeared to rule out all-electric Formula E to avoid competing against other Stellantis brands DS and Maserati, and hinted at a possible future partnership with another F1 team.

U.S.-owned Haas, who have close ties to Alfa/Sauber's current F1 engine partner Ferrari, could be one such option possibly with a 're-badged' power unit.

Alfa are effectively title sponsors of Sauber, who run the team, under a deal driven by the late FIAT Chrysler boss Sergio