Alfa Romeo could return to F1 as a competitor to Ferrari as part of a plan to promote the brand by Fiat Chrysler.
Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne holds the title of CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and has been working to increase Alfa Romeo's global visibility, with the marque's logo featuring prominently on this year's Ferrari.
Speaking during the Ferrari Christmas press conference in Maranello, Marchionne says one avenue being explored to further promote the brand is to enter it as a new team to race against Ferrari in F1.
"It's incredible how the Alfa marque remains in people's hearts," Marchionne is quoted as saying by Reuters. "For that very reason we are thinking about bringing it back, as our competitor, to racing, to Formula One. It's important for Alfa to return."
Alfa Romeo previously race in Formula One during the first two years of the world championship, winning back-to-back drivers' titles with Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio respectively. Having scaled its involvement back to be an engine supplier for over 30 years, Alfa Romeo returned as a constructor from 1979-1985, scoring five podiums in that time.
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