Speaking to reporters at a Ferrari Christmas lunch today, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne admitted that the Alfa Romeo name could return to F1.

The legendary Italian marque enjoyed F1 success both as a manufacturer of cars and engines, Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio winning the 1950 and 1951 world championship title driving the red cars.

Withdrawing as a manufacturer at the end of 1951, Alfa Romeo returned to the grid in 1979 and remained until 1985 though never coming anywhere near the success of those opening two seasons.

As an engine manufacturer the Italian marque supplied a number of teams between 1961 and 1988, including McLaren, March, Brabham and Osella.

Part of the Fiat Group since 1986, Alfa Romeo has been involved in racing, in one form or another, since 1911 when it contested the Targa Florio. Indeed, Ferrari founder, Enzo Ferrari, raced for the works team between 1920 and 1932 before leaving to establish Scuderia Ferrari.

Now, like Ferrari, part of Fiat Chrysler, the legendary marque could return to F1.

"It's incredible how the Alfa marque remains in people's hearts," said Marchionne. "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."

Currently, other than its works team, Ferrari supplies Sauber and Toro Rosso as well as establishing a close technical partnership with newcomer Haas.

At one point during Red Bull's search for an engine partner in 2016, there was talk of Alfa Romeo badged Ferrari power units in the back of the Austrian cars, but the Italian team refused to supply the same spec units as its works cars.

Since its launch in January, the Ferrari SF15-T has sported Alfa Romeo logos.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by PeterJ42, 18/12/2015 1:55

"I had two Alfa Romeos. Neither was reliable enough to challenge a Manor, never mind a championship. And one of my abiding memories of F1 was Andrea De Cesaris leading in an Alfa only for it to give up at Eau Rouge. Do we really want them back?"

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2. Posted by Lapps, 16/12/2015 16:00

"Keep in mind that Alfa Romeo is about to re-launch in the US!
Lapps"

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3. Posted by Kalbo, 16/12/2015 4:16

"I would've thought it would make more sense, in terms of marketing, for Fiat Chrysler Group to instruct Haas to rebrand with one of their US brands.

Jeep Haas F1 perhaps ?

"

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4. Posted by Lapps, 15/12/2015 10:47

"I have always thought that the Haas version of the power pack would be branded Alfa Romeo. I agree it would be magic to see a separately developed engine, but it is not going to happen. Mind you the top Guilia has a Ferrari developed motor!
Lapps"

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5. Posted by edllorca, 15/12/2015 4:45

"Alfa will be backjust like TAG Heuer? If so who needs them... If they want to build independent engines that would be great.
"

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Alfa Romeo could return to F1

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