Italian automaker Alfa Romeo ends participation in Formula 1 after ending partnership with Sauber. Alfa Romeo is part of Stellantis, an automotive conglomerate that includes Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot, and other brands. However, Stellantis currently has no presence in the world of F1. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares recently revealed that there is an ethical reason preventing a possible return to the sport.
Tavares acknowledged that Formula 1 is an incredibly effective marketing tool in terms of return on investment. However, the 65-year-old CEO expressed concerns about the ethical implications of spending large sums of money on the sport compared to the salaries of the conglomerate’s factory workers. Stellantis had to cut costs to ensure its products could compete with rival companies from Asia.
The CEO emphasized that it would be difficult to face the company’s workforce if millions of dollars were being spent on the F1 program while their salaries remained stagnant. Carlos Tavares considered this a significant ethical dilemma, as he values his relationship with all of his employees. Currently, neither Stellantis nor its sister brands have shown interest in joining Formula 1 in the near future.
Over the past decade, the world has become increasingly aware of the consequences of climate change. Many countries have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint, including banning combustion engine vehicles in the next decade. For example, the European Union plans to ban the sale of fossil fuel-powered cars starting in 2035.
Carlos Tavares highlighted that Formula 1 would directly conflict with the EU’s ban in 2035. He questioned how the sport would respond when car manufacturers can no longer sell cars with internal combustion engines (ICE). It is worth noting that Formula E has an exclusivity agreement with the FIA to be a fully electric series until 2029. Therefore, Formula 1 would need permission from the electric championship to transition to fully electric vehicles before that deadline.
Currently, Stellantis seems to have reservations about returning to Formula 1. The automotive conglomerate intends to observe how the sport evolves in the coming years before considering a possible return. However, given the significant growth in popularity that Formula 1 has experienced over the years, it is possible that one of Stellantis’ brands may be tempted to participate in the future.
