The Alfa Romeo name returns to F1

The Alfa Romeo brand will return to Formula 1 next year after an absence of more than 30 years after it entered a multi-year partnership with Swiss team Sauber.

The long-rumoured deal will see the team re-branded as Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team and will include "strategic, commercial and technological cooperation" and "the exchange of engineering and technical know-how" between Sauber and Ferrari F1 team.

"This agreement with the Sauber F1 team is a significant step in the reshaping of the Alfa Romeo brand, which will return to Formula 1 after an absence of more than 30 years," said Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne, who has been keen to bring the Alfa name back to F1 for some time. "A storied marque that has helped make the history of this sport, Alfa Romeo will join other major automakers that participate in Formula 1."

While no driver lineup has been announced yet, the team is expected to run Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc in place of Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein who drove for the team in 2016. The driver who will occupy the other seat is less clear. Current incumbent Marcus Ericsson has been backed by Sauber's investors for a number of years, but Ferrari is thought to be keen on getting another one of its young drivers, Antonio Giovinazzi, a drive with the team.

Ferrari F1 cars have run Alfa Romeo sponsorship since 2015, taking space on the car previously occupied by Fiat who had a presence on every Ferrari F1 car since 1977. Alfa Romeo haven't had their own top-level motorsport programme since they competed in the World Touring Car Championship as a full factory team in 2005.

Meanwhile, Sauber has run Ferrari customer engines every season since 1997, except for a four-year period in the late-2000s when the team was the BMW factory operation. Since BMW departed at the end of 2009, Sauber has often endured financial struggles but now the team has found an ideal partner according to chairman Pascal Picci.

"Alfa Romeo has a long history of success in grand prix racing, and we are very proud that this internationally renowned company has chosen to work with us for its return to the pinnacle of motorsport," he said. "Working closely with a car manufacturer is a great opportunity for the Sauber Group to further develop its technology and engineering projects."

"We are confident that together we can bring the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team great success, and look forward to a long and successful partnership."