F1: Sauber team renamed as Alfa Romeo Racing

Sauber won’t just have a new-look driver partnership on the track for the 2019 Formula 1 season but also a major rebrand off it.

Formerly officially known as the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team, the Swiss outfit has announced that it has been renamed Alfa Romeo Racing.

With new recruits Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi behind the wheel, the team is in confident mood ahead of the new campaign.

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They will launch their new car on 18 February at pre-season testing in Barcelona and then continue preparations for the first F1 grand prix of the season on 17 March in Australia.

‘Here to compete’

Italian car maker Alfa Romeo started a long-term partnership with Sauber last year. According to the F1 team the “term of the collaboration has been further extended” and the ownership and management of Sauber remains unchanged and independent.

Frédéric Vasseur, team principal at Alfa Romeo Racing, said in a statement: “It is a pleasure to announce that we will enter the 2019 F1 world championship with the team name Alfa Romeo Racing.

“After initiating the collaboration with our title sponsor Alfa Romeo in 2018, our team made fantastic progress on the technical, commercial and sporting side.

“This has given a boost of motivation to each team member, be that track-side or at the headquarter in Switzerland, as the hard work invested has become reflected in our results.

“We aim to continue developing every sector of our team while allowing our passion for racing, technology and design to drive us forward.”

Michael Manley, CEO FCA Group, added: “Alfa Romeo Racing is a new name with a long history in Formula 1. We’re proud to collaborate with Sauber in bringing Alfa Romeo’s tradition of technical excellence and Italian panache to the pinnacle of motorsport.

“Make no mistake: with Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi on one side of the pit wall and Alfa Romeo and Sauber expertise on the other, we are here to compete.”