Fiat Chrysler chairman Sergio Marchionne has once again expressed his desire to see Alfa Romeo back in Formula 1, even refusing to deny speculation the Italian car company could takeover the struggling Sauber outfit.
Alfa Romeo last competed in F1 as a constructor back in 1985, but Marchionne is keen to see the brand return for marketing reasons as it seeks to expand its market share across Europe and America.
Speaking in the Shanghai paddock at the weekend, he said: “[F1] is the maximum technological expression of the automotive world and so considering the objectives of Alfa Romeo, I think the option [of returning] should be considered,” he is quoted as saying by Italy’s Autosprint.
“The Alfa myth was born with racing, and somehow we have to get it back there,” he added. “When will it happen? I don’t know.”
When questioned as to whether speculation Sauber, which is struggling financially, could be the subject of a takeover by Alfa Romeo, Marchionne hinted it could be a possibility, saying: “If someone will assume all the debts…”