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https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2017/11/alfa-romeo-to-return-to-f1-with-sauber.html The Sauber F1 Team have signed a multi-year technical and commercial partnership with Alfa Romeo, returning the Italian car manufacturer to F1 after an absence of more than 30 years. The deal will see the Swiss squad renamed Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team from 2018, with the car bearing the Alfa Romeo logo and being equipped with 2018-spec Ferrari engines. “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 chairman Sergio Marchionne, who also acts as CEO of Alf’s parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. “A storied marque that has helped make the history of this sport, Alfa Romeo will join other major automakers that participate in Formula 1. The brand itself will also benefit from the sharing of technology and strategic know-how with a partner of the Sauber F1 Team’s undisputed experience. “The Alfa Romeo engineers and technicians, who have already demonstrated their capabilities with the newly-launched models, Giulia and Stelvio, will have the opportunity to make that experience available to the Sauber F1 Team. At the same time, Alfa Romeo fans will once again have the opportunity to support an automaker that is determined to begin writing an exciting new chapter in its unique, legendary sporting history.” Pascal Picci, Chairman of Sauber Holding AG, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Alfa Romeo to the Sauber F1 Team. 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. “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.” Alfa Romeo was the dominant force as the Formula 1 World Championship began in 1950, with the Italian marque claiming an historic 1-2-3 in the first ever race at Silverstone before claiming back-to-back world championships with Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio. The Milan-based marque then served an engine supplier for several teams from 1961 until 1979, before returning with a works team from 1979 to 1985. Sauber have not yet revealed who will race for them in 2018, but having strengthened their ties with Ferrari – which carries Alfa logos on its cars - the Scuderia’s junior drivers Charles Leclerc (the recently crowned F2 champion) and Antonio Giovinazzi are thought to be firmly in the frame for seats.

For just over S$2 million, you can have Nick Heidfeld's 2006 BMW Sauber F1 which comes standard with a working 2.4-litre V8 race engine. Sold by Dubizzle Dubai, the Formula 1 car is reported to be in mint condition. While the price might be very steep as a weekend track toy, you can be pretty sure no one would turn up in a similar car at any track day.

The 2012 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix was again an event full of unpredictability mainly due to the weather. I was glad that I decided to stay home and catch it on telly again as it rained, the race was red flagged after some laps before continuing again some time later. It was so unpredictable that Fernando Alonso driving the Ferrari came in first behind Mexican Sergio Perez of Sauber and Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren Mercedes. Sergio who? Exactly. The rain cause a great many upsets until we got to see the first Mexican in over 40 years to step up on a Formula 1 winner's podium. And then we got to see grown men from Ferrari and Sauber shed tears of joy. Team Ferrari was most pleased that they've managed to secure a win after a very tough and dry 2011 season. Whilst for Sauber, it has managed to score some points and a podium finish after a great deal of years finishing at the rear. This is also the first podium finish for Sauber as an independent team instead of branded as BMW Sauber or Sauber Petronas in recent years. Watching Peter Sauber cry is almost like watching a happily-ever-after fairytale ending. Of course it isn't. The F1 calendar for 2012 has just got into full stride. This is only the second race this season but the first proper race held at a track. Melbourne was a city track and we did not see the true potential of the cars. BUT it rained in Sepang and we still didn't manage to see the true potential of the cars. We could see however that some drivers and some cars doing well in the wet, but that's about it really. We also saw upsets. Michael Schumacher started in fourth and was tagged by turn 4 of the opening lap. It caused him a chance for a top three finish that I was also hoping for due to the rain (the chap was called 'rainmeister' if one remembers correctly). He managed to finish 10th giving him some points though. Starting high up in the grid shows us the potential of the Mercedes Petronas F1 car. It seems to me that this latest Ross Brawn designed car is up there with the rest of the leaders. Even with ol' Schumacher at the wheel. Maybe it is because he's at the wheel in a car that is set up for him that he's fast

There is speculation that BMW Sauber F1 will not compete next season. A press conference has been called for Wednesday for BMW's senior management to announce some news, possibly about its F1 participation. If indeed BMW withdraws, it will come as grave news for fans. This comes less than a year after Honda F1's withdrawal. Both manufacturers had high hopes for winning as constructors, but disappointingly both of them have only managed 1 race win each since their 2006 comeback. Hopefully the team will not disappear outright. Perhaps Peter Sauber can be persuaded to take back his team and run it as a Cosworth engined independent, like the 3 new entrants of 2010.