The future of Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes has been pending since George Russell made his mark at the Sakhir GP last season. As a result, there was a paper conversation in the paddock claiming Bottas had initiated talks with Alfa Romeo about the 2022 F1 seat, which may replace Kimi Raikkonen.
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However, reports have claimed that Alfa Romeo wants to track not just a Mercedes driver but their engine as well.
Alfa Romeo, owned by Sauber Motorsports AG, has been one of Ferrari’s main customers for the past 12 years and it may soon be running out.
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Alfa Romeo switches to Mercedes engines?
Ferrari engine performance has been declining since the 2020 season, which has had a significant impact on Alfa Romeo’s goals for the season. Although the Scuderias managed to develop a decent engine for 2021, it doesn’t seem enough for the Italian team to challenge the midfield.
According to F1 insider, Sauber’s owner Rausing is therefore interested in ending the relationship with Ferrari and switching to title contender Mercedes.
Formula 1 F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium – August 27, 2021 Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen during practice REUTERS / Johanna Geron
As of now, Alfa Romeo is reviewing all possible options and appears to be reluctant to sign a new deal with Ferrari. So if the talks with Mercedes go perfectly, Alfa Romeo could rise as the fifth F1 team with a Mercedes engine in the back.
The fact that Ola Källenius, head of Mercedes-Benz, is also on the board of the Rausing-based family company Tetra Laval increases the chances that Mercedes and Alfa Romeo will reach an agreement earlier than expected.
Does fate take a wild turn?
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Alfa Romeo was one of the worst performing F1 teams this season, just ahead of Haas. The Italian outfit looked stronger than Williams at one point.
Formula 1 F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen in action during practice REUTERS / Jennifer Lorenzini
However, the latter at the Hungaroring and Spa meant that they jumped past Alfa Romeo in the constructors’ championship.
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Therefore, with a possible Bottas-Ilott squad for 2022, together with a Mercedes engine in the back, Sauber could return to its true form, which stormed the midfield in the early 2010s. But will these speculations come true in reality?
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The post REPORTS: Alfa Romeo wants to get rid of Ferrari F1 engines for Mercedes in the Bombshell update first appeared on monter-une-startup.
