Alfa Romeo now free to choose its two drivers
Ferrari will no longer impose the appointment of a driver on Frederic Vasseur's team. However, despite this announcement, the two teams will continue to work hand in hand.
Since 2018 and the beginning of the partnership between Alfa Romeo and Sauber, the Scuderia has the possibility of placing one of their drivers within Frédéric Vasseur’s team. Currently, Antonio Giovinazzi holds this position within the Swiss team, alongside veteran Kimi Räikkönen.
Shortly after the officialization of the extension of the partnership between the Italian manufacturer and Sauber, Fred Vasseur stated that Alfa Romeo will no longer have a driver imposed by Ferrari and will be free to choose its two drivers.
« The subject of drivers is obviously a key point. We will be able to choose the driver freely in the future. But the connection with Ferrari obviously means that we can easily discuss with them about their own pool of pilots. We have Antonio, he is progressing, he is doing a good job, and my goal is to keep this connection with Ferrari. But our choice is free, and we will discuss it with them. », he confesses to our colleagues at Motorsport.com.
These remarks were confirmed by Jean-Philippe Imparto during an interview with L’Équipe. The boss of Alfa Romeo went back on the new agreement reached with Sauber. He has full confidence in Fred Vasseur:
To each his own job. So the answer is no! There is only one who chooses. It will be Fred Vasseur! I know how to sell cars, he knows how to lead a team. He has been doing this for twenty-five years and he does it very well. We have decided together that, ultimately, it will be he who decides who will be in the cockpit. And he will do it at the right time, as he has always done, he explained.
From now on free to choose their two drivers, will the Swiss team continue the adventure in 2022 with Kimi Räikkönen (close to retirement) and Antonio Giovinazzi (a driver imposed by Ferrari), or will Alfa Romeo be tempted by someone else?
