Alfa's last foray into F1 was such a resounding success. My understanding is that Alfa doesn't have a pot to p*ss in and the ante for F1 has never been greater. Nonsense.
I think that Alfa came to F1 almost by accident. They were not doing bad in sportscars with their flat-12 engine, and as the category fell apart, they had already one component for a F1. Ecclestone asked for their engine for his Brabham team, and Lauda even won a GP with it, if I remember correctly. That's how their involvement in F1 started. I think that ex-Ferrari Carlo Chiti, the head of AUTODELTA, convinced the brass at Alfa that he could beat the Scuderia. The flat-12 was abandoned later, for a V12, and then a turbo V8. I say this from memory. Of course, Alfa came later under the FIAT umbrella, and it makes little sense to have 2 teams fighting for the same laurels.
I should have made the distinction between Alfa as an engine supplier and Alfa as a constructor. There were a few wins with Brabham using the flat 12 you are correct. I recall watching Hans Stuck run away from the field in the rain at the Glen in 77. As a constructor they never quite got it right though I was always pulling for them. I was big Patrick Depailler fan.
The BT46 Alfa won in Sweden with the famous fan car and also won at Monza in 1978 after Ferrari was disqualified
Stuck lead in the rain, but he crashed ... Hunt won. Alfa's F1 legacy is really bound up in the beginning for F-1 they were the original world champions... the tie up with Brabham was from Parmalat - they wanted / needed an italian connection. Alfa Corse was pretty distinct from Alfa Romeo car company- attached but not by much. by the time Auto delta came long... its was not much there from the main car company. Chiti used Alfa - auto delta to set up Motori Moderni = same place in Milan, same number of cats running around. the fact is that Alfa has more F-1 history than almost anyone other than Ferrari. they were the first Italians winning racing back in the 20's -40's and 50's .... so from a history point of view it would be great to have them back.... Andretti did have a couple of poles with them...but they could not make it last.
As I recall Stuck lost his clutch shortly after the start of the race. Auto Delta was based in Udine, wasn't it?
Kind of sad but the new F1 cars don't sound half as good as this!!! I always said aluminum V6's and V12's have the best sound(ok boxer 12's are also great). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrqDATilXJ0
1925 was a landmark year in Grand Prix Racing, due to the organization of the "World Championship of Manufacturers". The Alfa Romeo P2's won that year, becoming the 1° Campione del Mundo / 1st World Championship in Grand Prix Racing. After that Championship win, the Laurel Wreath was added to the circumference of the Alfa-Romeo Milano badge. Pre World War II, Alfa Romeo chalked up the most wins with 36 1st places, against runner up Bugatti with 21 wins. Post World War II, Alfa Romeo in 1950 won the opening round of the current F1 series with 11 wins and Guiseppe Farina becoming the fist driver to win the Drivers Championship (No Constructor's Championship back then). In 1951 Alfa Romeo took the championship again, with 6 wins, with Juan M. Fangio winning the second Formula 1 World Driver’s Championship. In 1952: Alfa Romeo retired from official participation in F1 Racing, in order to operate the industrial transformation of its Portello Factory, for the forthcoming production in 1954 of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta model range. The Alfa Romeo Tipo 158/159 to date is the most successful Grand Prix Car in the history of GP Racing and its success can never be eclipsed.
So Alfa Romeo were pretty darned successful in Grand Prix racing 60+ years ago when the World was in black and white and everybody walked really quickly - And? (If they're hoping to dust off the Tipo 158/159 and go Grand Prix racing again then in all honesty - I think it's going to get it's a:censored:e spanked quite badly these days! )
Ferrari wasn't disqualified..Reutman was third, Mario won in the Lotus with Gilles second (after a big batle all the race) but they were both penalized with 1m for false start......wich they did, but that g.p was such a mess anyway!!!
yap, me too, didn't even remenber him driving the blue cigar....just the yellow tea pot and the Alfa....
When Alfa was racing independantly - they just did not have the money to develope an engine and a chassis. with Ferrari doing the engine work, and Alfa a badge - its more a publicity - markeitng excersize - which is what it needs. If i were Ferrari I would only really want my engines in my own team... not in the Torro rosso etc... but that is me. if the old man were alive - non of this would be happening with the Ferrari name.... it would have to be badged something else ... followed by a huge check to Ferrari.
I think they have the huge check part down pretty well, just need to work on the badge (which it sounds like they are).
Ronnie was one of my heroes, and one of my all time greatest drivers. I introduced myself to him at the Glen in 77 and stumbled through some words of admiration to him. He could not have been nicer, actually rather shy and self-effacing. He was like greased-lightning on the track however. RIP Ronnie.
