Ferrari president: "Red Bull wanted Alfa Romeo engines"

Red Bull expressed interest in being powered by Alfa Romeo engines in F1. That is the revelation of Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler president Sergio Marchionne, who said moves are still afoot to bring the Italian carmaker back to the grid.

"Alfa Romeo may be there one day," Italian reports quote him as saying at the launch of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia road car this week.

"It will require serious funds -- to invest in racing you need to sell a lot of cars, so today we are just at the beginning," Marchionne added.

"But if Alfa Romeo returns to formula one, it will be as a factory team rather than a supplier of engines," he continued.

"Red Bull was interested in Alfa Romeo last year, but they needed only an engine and that didn't make sense for us. We are not Honda," said Marchionne.

The notoriously demanding Italian-Canadian was also asked about Ferrari's on-track performance in 2016, amid reports the current team is under pressure having failed to win any of the four grands prix so far.

Marchionne said: "The fate of the title is yet to be solved, and I am very happy with the performance of both drivers.

"This year we have often had bad luck, but there is a chance to win. The season has just begun and I hope that in Barcelona we will fight for first position.

"I am confident and Sunday will be an important day," he said, referring to the Spanish grand prix. "I am expecting a couple of wins shortly, starting at Montmelo (Barcelona)."

Finally, Marchionne denied being disappointed that Red Bull has scratched Max Verstappen from the driver 'silly season' by moving him from Toro Rosso.

"This is an issue for Red Bull," he said. "I never said that Verstappen interested us."