The 2023 season began promisingly for Alfa Romeo with Bottas securing four points by finishing eighth in Bahrain, while his teammate Zhou Guanyu has also demonstrated noticeable improvement since his debut season in 2022.
However, in the highly competitive middle field of F1, the team, managed by Sauber, often ended up outside the points, only managing to secure points in four out of 10 Grand Prix.
At Silverstone, despite Alfa Romeo’s extensive upgrade package, they slipped to ninth place in the constructors’ championship after being outranked by Alex Albon and Williams. Bottas, despite a valiant effort driving from 20th to 12th, remained unrewarded.
The Alfa’s C43, while steady, is still lacking in aerodynamic load compared to competitors. The team is not expected to make significant improvements in the forthcoming races in Hungary and Belgium, as any new upgrades are planned for after the summer shutdown.
“We certainly made progress, but so do other teams,” Bottas stated after the British Grand Prix. “That’s part of the competition. We need to step up a little more. Our next updates will come after the summer break, which will require hard work from our team in the factory to bring some new components.”
Bottas concedes that the Hinwil team must decide soon whether to channel their resources into developing their 2024 car or to continue their efforts with their current vehicle.
“As we’re nearing the middle of the season, it’s clear that we haven’t been able to move up the ladder as much as we’d hoped,” Bottas admitted. “A point will come when we have to commit entirely to next year’s model. I believe that discussion will happen soon.”
Despite expectations of outperforming last year’s results, Bottas confessed that the team had not made the progress they’d hoped for during winter and the start of the season.
“We’re not hitting the goals we set for ourselves.”
Xevi Pujolar, the team’s trackside engineering director, confirmed that the Silverstone upgrades had performed as predicted. Despite acknowledging the team’s significant progress and their adherence to the budget cap, he also admitted the necessity for further strides to move beyond their current standing.
“With our production and all other aspects, we are on par with our rivals,” he claimed. “We made a significant leap forward, no doubt about it. But there’s still more to be done. As you can see, we’re still battling in the midfield.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alfa Romeo F1 performance
How did Alfa Romeo perform at the beginning of the 2023 F1 season?
Alfa Romeo started off the 2023 season with Bottas securing eighth place in Bahrain and his teammate Zhou Guanyu showing noticeable improvement since his rookie season in 2022.
How has the team’s overall performance been so far?
Despite some initial successes, the team managed by Sauber has often found itself on the losing end of the points in the competitive middle field of F1. They have only managed to secure points in four out of 10 Grand Prix.
What upgrades has Alfa Romeo implemented for the 2023 season?
At Silverstone, Alfa Romeo implemented an extensive upgrade package. However, the team slipped to ninth in the constructors’ championship despite these changes.
What are the future plans for Alfa Romeo’s car upgrades?
The team plans to introduce its next upgrades after the summer shutdown. The forthcoming races in Hungary and Belgium are not expected to yield significant improvements.
What is Bottas’ opinion on the team’s current performance?
Bottas acknowledges that the team has made progress, but admits that it hasn’t moved up the ladder as much as hoped. He says the team will soon have to decide whether to focus entirely on developing the 2024 car or to continue their efforts with the current one.
Has the team been able to meet its targets for the 2023 season?
No, Bottas admits that they have fallen short of the goals they set for themselves in the 2023 season.
More about Alfa Romeo F1 performance
- Alfa Romeo F1
- Valtteri Bottas’ Official Website
- F1 Official Website
- Sauber F1 Team
- 2023 Formula 1 Season Overview
5 comments
not sure what’s goin on with Alfa Romeo, should have done better with the upgrades! cmon guys!!
With all the talent in the team, its a shame they’re underperforming… need to work smarter guys.
looks like 2024’s gonna be the deciding year for Alfa..fingers crossed.
Bottas’s right! They need 2 focus on next year’s car. This season’s over for Alfa.
hope they turn things around after summer. Feel bad 4 Bottas tho. Great driver stuck in a mediocre car 🙁