Former Mercedes racer brings experience of five F1 Constructors’ Championships to team hoping to get into the midfield.
On Sunday, Alfa Romeo unveiled its C42, and today Autoweek takes a look at reasons for fans to be optimistic and pessimistic about the team’s prospects for 2022.
Reasons to Be Optimistic
Alfa Romeo was one team to abandon development of its 2021 car very early last year and consequently it has a potential advantage for 2022. And despite not developing its C41 throughout much of 2021, the team was still capable of occasionally making it into the top 10 in qualifying with 41-year-old Kimi Räikkönen and a solid but not outstanding Antonio Giovinazzi.
Alfa Romeo has also finally been able to use its long-awaited new simulator, which was substantially delayed amid the pandemic. The simulator adds an element of excitement to excellent facilities at its Switzerland factory. Alfa Romeo should also benefit from technical partner Ferrari’s updated power unit. Alfa Romeo’s performances in 2020 and 2021 regressed in line with Ferrari’s power shortfall; it did not run the updated hybrid system Ferrari introduced in fall 2021 but will take the new-spec PU for 2022.
In signing Mercedes castoff Valtteri Bottas to takeover No. 1 driver duties from the retired Reikkonen, Alfa Romeo has a 10-time race winner and a driver who has contributed to five Constructors’ titles. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge from a team that has set the standards for a generation. His pure qualifying speed is also underappreciated, having taken 20 pole positions. Bottas is also an apolitical figure, with an appreciation of life outside of the hamster wheel of Formula 1, who should be rejuvenated by the leadership role and multi-year commitment Alfa Romeo has made, after a sequence of nervy one-year deals at Mercedes. A past connection with team boss Frederic Vasseur—Bottas won the GP3 Series title for Vasseur’s ART team in 2011—is only a benefit.
Alfa Romeo launched its new livery on Feb. 27.
Alfa Romeo
In hiring rookie and China native Guanyu Zhou, Alfa Romeo continues a trend of running inexperienced racers. Zhou won races in Formula 2 and is well-liked amid his peers for his attitude and commitment, having made plenty of sacrifices to pursue his dream. As the first Formula 1 driver from China, there is the prospect of Alfa Romeo tapping into potentially lucrative markets in the country. Alfa Romeo also has one of the most hotly-rated juniors under its wing in the form of Theo Pourchaire, who last year became Formula 2’s youngest race winner at 17.
Reasons to Be Pessimistic
Alfa Romeo’s long-term ambition remains curious. It was title partner in 2018 before taking on naming rights of Sauber from 2019. A multi-year renewal was confirmed last year but with yearly assessments, meaning it is unclear exactly how and where Formula 1 sits in the priority of the wider Alfa Romeo company, which is now in the remit of the Stellantis empire. It is clearly a beneficial marketing collaboration but without tangible progress it remains unfulfilled.
Alfa Romeo rookie Guanyu Zhou.
Peter J FoxGetty Images
What will Alfa Romeo be happy with in terms of results, and for how long? Last year’s botched sale to Michael Andretti was hardly a development that augured well for the current ownership’s long-term commitment and belief in the team.
On-track. Alfa Romeo squandered several opportunities in its quest to finish ahead of Williams for eighth place in the F1 Constructors’ Championship standings. The team has not classified higher than that in the championship since 2013, and last put a driver on the podium in 2012.
While a revised driver lineup provides a clean slate, Alfa Romeo has taken a risk, as the only team to do so ahead of a regulatory overhaul. That means making past references is harder while off-track both Bottas and Zhou have to develop relationships with personnel, and gain understanding of a new environment and associated procedures.
Bottas, while an excellent qualifier, has never been among the best racers. That could be a weakness. assuming Alfa Romeo is in the pack. For a driver who for five years has entered each event with a chance of victory, he will have to reset his ambitions. He has been in this situation before, with Williams, but that was before tasting success.
Sole rookie Zhou faces an uphill challenge. His junior record is good, but not outstanding, reaching third after three years in Formula 2. The absence of a Chinese Grand Prix for 2022 is also a negative for both Zhou and Alfa Romeo commercially. The looming presence of Pourchaire, admired by boss Vasseur, does not bode well for Zhou’s long-term chances.
During the first three-day preseason test, Alfa Romeo did not inspire much confidence. It completed more laps than only Haas and showed little to suggest it was preparing to surge forwards.
The team’s target is seventh, which is modest, and demonstrates which end of the grid the C42 is likely to be found this year.
What We Expect
Bottas should comfortably outclass Zhou, but will have to realign his goals from competing for victories to just trying to crack the top 10. Higher than P8 overall for Alfa would mark a superb season.
Keyword: Valtteri Bottas Gives Alfa Romeo a Fresh Look for 2022 Formula 1 season