Post by Lee on Dec 7, 2017 12:50:09 GMT
The latest rumours coming out Italy are that Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne wants Haas F1 to take on Maserati sponsorship in 2018.
Following similar lines to the deal that has recently been struck with Sauber for the team to be sponsored by Alfa Romeo, the engines would remain Ferrari and initially at least it would simply be a case of title sponsorship. This would give Marchionne a level of control over Haas in any future political negotiations in F1. Although clearly Gene Haas does not need the money the deal would save Haas a great deal of money, however there is little doubt that Marchionne would want to be able to place drivers within the team in the long term. Haas has said that it intends to stick with its current line-up of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen next year.
Maserati has historical associations with the sport dating back to the 1920s however the last Maserati team in F1 was in 1957, shortly before the firm went into receivership. The company continued to supply engines after the company restructured, during the 1960s the engines were used by Cooper. The Cooper-Maseratis even won two races: with John Surtees at the Mexican GP in 1966 and Pedro Rodriguez in South Africa in 1967 although the engines faded out of F1 as the Cosworth became the dominant force in 1968 with the last Maseratis in F1 were during the 1969 season. By this time the company had been sold to Citroen and in 1975 it was once again put into liquidation, although it was again revived, this time by Alejandro de Tomaso, it was then sold to Fiat in 1993 and ended up under Ferrari control from 1997, although it returned to Fiat control in 2005.
Under Marchionne, Maserati has introduced the Levante SUV and sales have increased significantly. Moving the brand into F1 iwould no doubt raise the firms profile further and make the Alfa Romeo / Maserati arm more attractive for a sale or a merger.
Following similar lines to the deal that has recently been struck with Sauber for the team to be sponsored by Alfa Romeo, the engines would remain Ferrari and initially at least it would simply be a case of title sponsorship. This would give Marchionne a level of control over Haas in any future political negotiations in F1. Although clearly Gene Haas does not need the money the deal would save Haas a great deal of money, however there is little doubt that Marchionne would want to be able to place drivers within the team in the long term. Haas has said that it intends to stick with its current line-up of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen next year.
Maserati has historical associations with the sport dating back to the 1920s however the last Maserati team in F1 was in 1957, shortly before the firm went into receivership. The company continued to supply engines after the company restructured, during the 1960s the engines were used by Cooper. The Cooper-Maseratis even won two races: with John Surtees at the Mexican GP in 1966 and Pedro Rodriguez in South Africa in 1967 although the engines faded out of F1 as the Cosworth became the dominant force in 1968 with the last Maseratis in F1 were during the 1969 season. By this time the company had been sold to Citroen and in 1975 it was once again put into liquidation, although it was again revived, this time by Alejandro de Tomaso, it was then sold to Fiat in 1993 and ended up under Ferrari control from 1997, although it returned to Fiat control in 2005.
Under Marchionne, Maserati has introduced the Levante SUV and sales have increased significantly. Moving the brand into F1 iwould no doubt raise the firms profile further and make the Alfa Romeo / Maserati arm more attractive for a sale or a merger.
give you a reason to attend a few F1 races at last ;-)
