Drivex by Alonso Formula Renault Eurocup car, 2019

Alonso-backed Formula Renault team debuts

RaceFans Round-up

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In the round-up: The racing team backed by Fernando Alonso has run its Formula Renault Eurocup car for the first time. David Gonzalez drove the FA Racing by Drivex car at the Cremona circuit in Italy, in very cold and wet conditions.

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Comment of the day

Sauber’s metamorphosis into Alfa Romeo has provoked mixed feelings for many:

As an Alfa man it’s great to have the name back front and centre.

But I don’t like the manner in which it has been done (losing the Sauber name), nor do I like that they are in essence Ferrari’s Toro Rosso. This just brings them closer under the Ferrari wing and (IMO) paves the way for even closer collaboration in future.

Let’s see how this one pans out.
Brian (@Bealzbob)

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On this day in F1

  • Tony Shelly, who started a single Formula 1 race in 1962 and failed to qualify for two others, was born on this day in 1937

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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26 comments on “Alonso-backed Formula Renault team debuts”

  1. Alfa should probably apply for those heritage payments, being the oldest team and all. 😉

    1. @afonic: Why not? Could take it out of Ferrari’s share. Oh…wait…

  2. Does Fred have a championship trophy as an owner/driver yet?

    1. I’m still researching that one … Karting?

  3. Hopefully, he indeed can build on those for the next season.

    I agree with the COTD in principle although a closer collaboration mightn’t necessarily always be that bad. Let’s wait and see how it’s eventually going to pan out.

    1. I’m really looking forward to their first win.

      1. @drycrust I have my doubts about that. I don’t think they could beat Mercedes, Ferrari, or RBR on raw pace, so quite a lot would probably have to happen for them to win a race or even achieve a podium.

  4. Didn’t BMW also remove sauber’s around 2008/09 before sauber took it back when BMW quit?

    1. No, it was called BMW Sauber then.

      1. @kpcart Yes. It was a full-fledged BMW works team from 2006 to 2009 before becoming Sauber again after BMW withdraw from F1 altogether.
        @kaiie Yes, it was called BMW-Sauber, but technically it was still 100% BMW works-team nevertheless despite the Sauber-name appearing within the team name on the official entry lists.

  5. Heart breaking … I guess the Williams name will be the next and last to fall of the once greats.

    1. Oh my, there is still Bruce’s team name left … my bad.

      1. But is it really?

    2. Duncan Snowden
      2nd February 2019, 13:21

      Were Sauber ever “great” in F1? Don’t get me wrong, I have huge affection for them, but to me this feels more like the demise of Jordan or Arrows than, say, Lotus or Tyrrell: sad, certainly, but not a tragic loss to the sport. It hasn’t even been Peter Sauber’s team for some time now.

      That said, I understand the annoyance at the trampling of his legacy by a superficial marketing makeover. Alfa could at least retain the “C” numbering sequence for the chassis as a token gesture to long-term fans. But I’ll miss the presence of a Swiss entry on the grid more than the name itself, I think.

      1. Are they moving out of Switzerland?

        1. Duncan Snowden
          4th February 2019, 12:20

          No, but presumably Alfa will want them to enter under an Italian licence.

          1. For the time being, the licence is still Swiss.

  6. If Alfa drop the Sauber name, Racing Point should jump in and take it! Might get a few extra fans too. Would only be as confusing as the Lotus / Team Lotus debacle!

  7. Maybe renaming the new team as Alfa Romeo Sauber would have been the more sensible thing to do

    1. That was their name last season.

      1. petebaldwin (@)
        2nd February 2019, 15:40

        And that comment shows why they are dropping the name. Alfa Romeo Sauber didn’t work because everyone called them Sauber.

  8. 6 Ferrari car on grid ?

    1. You got it, Scuderia Ferrari – F1, Alpha Romeo Racing – F1.5, Haas F1 – F1.25

  9. I loved Sauber’s team picture from last year. Reminded me of the soup isle at the market.

  10. Valterri knows all the buzzwords doesn’t he? :)

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