Horner: Alfa Romeo return proof of Ferrari’s commitment to F1

By Dec 2, 2017, 1:00 PM EST
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Red Bull chief Christian Horner believes the return of the Alfa Romeo name to Formula 1 for 2018 proves Ferrari’s long-term commitment to the sport despite its recent quit threat.

The Alfa Romeo and Ferrari brands are both part of the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance, and will be in F1 together next year for the first time since 1985.

Alfa Romeo will become the title sponsor of Sauber – which will be known as Alfa Romeo Sauber – as part of an expanded technical partnership with Ferrari.

FCA chairman Sergio Marchionne said recently that Ferrari would have to consider its future in F1 depending on Liberty Media’s vision for the sport, but Horner feels the arrival of Alfa Romeo proves its commitment to the series.

“[Alfa] come under the same management as Sergio, so I can’t believe he’d have brought Alfa Romeo in for Ferrari to be leaving in a couple of years,” Horner told Reuters.

“I think it demonstrates that Formula 1 is obviously working and creating the recognition, otherwise the group wouldn’t have brought the Alfa brand into Formula 1.

“Formula 1 needs Ferrari and Ferrari needs Formula 1. It’s a marriage of convenience in many respects but both entities ultimately need each other.

“And we certainly want Ferrari in Formula 1. A Formula 1 with Ferrari in, it’s one of the biggest brands in the world, and they are a great team to compete against.”

IndyCar disappointed by delay of video game but aiming to launch at start of 2024

By Mar 27, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT
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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”