Italian automaker Alfa Romeo made its exit from Formula 1 at the conclusion of the 2023 season following the termination of its title partnership with Sauber. Alfa Romeo is a part of Stellantis, an automotive conglomerate that includes Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot, and other brands. However, Stellantis currently does not have a presence in the world of F1. The CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, recently revealed that there is an ethical reason that is preventing a potential return to the sport.
Tavares acknowledged that Formula 1 is an incredibly effective marketing tool in terms of return on investment. However, the 65-year-old CEO expressed concerns about the ethical implications of spending vast amounts of money on the sport when compared to the wages of the conglomerate’s factory workers. Stellantis had to reduce costs in order to ensure that its products could compete with rival companies from Asia.
The CEO emphasized that it would be difficult to face the company’s workforce if millions of dollars were being spent on the F1 program while their wages remained stagnant. Carlos Tavares considered this to be a significant ethical dilemma, as he values his relationship with all of his employees. Currently, neither Stellantis nor its sister brands have shown any interest in joining Formula 1 in the near future.
Over the past decade, the world has become increasingly aware of the consequences of climate change. Many countries have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint, including the banning of combustion vehicles in the next decade. The European Union, for example, plans to prohibit the sale of fossil fuel-powered cars starting from 2035.
Carlos Tavares pointed out that Formula 1 would directly conflict with the EU’s ban in 2035. He questioned how the sport would respond when car manufacturers are no longer allowed to sell internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. It is worth noting that Formula E has an exclusivity agreement with the FIA to be an all-electric series until 2029. Therefore, Formula 1 would require permission from the electric championship in order to transition to fully electric vehicles before this timeframe.
At present, Stellantis appears to have reservations about returning to Formula 1. The automotive conglomerate intends to observe how the sport evolves in the coming years before considering a potential comeback. However, given the significant growth in popularity that Formula 1 has experienced over the years, it is possible that one of Stellantis’ brands may be enticed to participate in the future.