#Alfa Romeo reveal ‘major change’ on new C43 as they target ‘next level of performance’ in 2023

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Alfa Romeo reveal major change on new C43 as they target next level of performance in 2023

Alfa Romeo’s 2023 Formula 1 car, the C43, features several key modifications at the rear compared to its predecessor, the team’s Technical Director, Jan Monchaux, has explained. On Tuesday, Alfa Romeo presented their new challenger and new livery for the upcoming F1 season, as the Sauber-run operation look to build on a P6 finish in last year’s constructors’ standings. FIRST LOOK: Alfa Romeo show off 2023 C43 F1 car with striking new livery Although the car is described as an “evolution” over the C42, Monchaux oversaw “a major change of architecture” at the rear-end during the winter period, covering the suspension, gearbox, cooling layout, bodywork and more – all while taking into account ride height and diffuser rule tweaks. Speaking at Alfa Romeo’s car launch, Monchaux commented: “We identified areas where we thought there was still potential for us to unleash, potential we wouldn’t be able to unleash in the 2022 season. “We concentrated mainly on the rear part of the car, where we just wanted to be brave enough to do the next step in terms of pure development on the rear end, which opened the door to a lot of other solutions we couldn’t implement last year.” Offering up more details, he continued: “In effect, we decided to change the rear axis, redoing the rear suspension, and therefore the gearbox casing, which then opens the door to new layouts, especially on the [cooling] side, which once in place allowed us to develop the bodywork. “Last year – during the season – it was not possible, and the concept we had followed last year, we were of the opinion that [it] had come to a sort of plateau, and to unleash the next level of performance, we had to do all those changes that have been quite a journey for us, because it’s a big, big, complex part we had to re-do. GALLERY: Take a closer look at Alfa Romeo’s new car and new livery for the 2023 season “Then, evidently, all the rear-end work we see with the floor, alongside the new regs… so we’ve really been putting a lot of effort on the second part of the car, while the front will be successively developed during the season. “[It is] quite a change for us in terms of the bodywork and how we handle the hot air coming from the radiators, compared to last year’s car. It’s not a revolution, [as] similar solutions were on the grid already last year, but it’s something we couldn’t implement without a major change of the architecture.” Alfa Romeo’s 2023 F1 car sports a new red and black livery Alongside Alfa Romeo’s quest for performance, Monchaux added that reliability has also been a focus for the squad ahead of the new campaign, having seen points go begging on several occasions in 2022 due to component failures. “Throughout the course of the season, it also became relatively clear that we had reliability issues, so there [are] a lot of things we changed on the car, but also internally in terms of processes to address that topic,” said Monchaux. TEAM GUIDE: Alfa Romeo’s unique place in the F1 history books – and how they’re set for 2023 “Historically, we were always very strong with reliability, but last year somehow we lost a little bit what used to be one of our biggest strengths, so it was clearly one of the focuses, or one of the areas of major focus for us last winter.” He signed off: “The [new] car hasn’t run yet, so reliability is perfect! I assume it will stay as this. Touch wood, but I’m fairly confident we have left these issues behind us.” Alfa Romeo will shake down the C43 in Barcelona later this week, before all 10 F1 teams head to Bahrain for pre-season testing from February 23-25. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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Zhou outlines key areas for improvement in sophomore year as he unveils new helmet for 2023

As he prepares to begin his second season in Formula 1, Zhou Guanyu has outlined the areas he feels both he and his Alfa Romeo team have to improve when racing gets under way next month. The Chinese racer enjoyed a strong rookie campaign which started with a points finish on his debut when he came home in P10 at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, while his personal best result came later in the season in Montreal – where he finished in P8. READ MORE: Alfa Romeo reveal ‘major change’ on new C43 as they target ‘next level of performance’ in 2023 After a busy winter break spent at home in Shanghai preparing for his sophomore season, Zhou spoke to the media on Tuesday morning at Alfa Romeo’s launch of their 2023 car, the C43, and opened up about both his strengths and weaknesses coming into the new season. “From my side, I think as a team it's quite clear, it’s the first 100 metres [at the start],” said Zhou, when asked what he was looking to improve this year. “[In the] beginning of the year I was improving my one lap pace, to get the confidence to be absolutely pushing on the limit, not making mistakes in quali, and we were able to reach that throughout the season. “But [at] the starts, we were the team that couldn’t get the most consistency out of it. As a team we’ve been working super hard since the last winter. Hopefully, we will be making a further step up, and try to be more consistent on my side." Zhou says Alfa Romeo must improve their starts in 2023 He added: “[Last year] there was a lot more new tracks for me to learn over the 2022 season. This season most of the tracks I have driven there, so all this can be taken into consideration. "I feel like this year we can definitely make a further step up, but as a team we are very clear on the weakness and the strong point.” FIRST LOOK: Alfa Romeo show off 2023 C43 F1 car with striking new livery When pushed to explain the difference in his approach coming into the 2023 season, compared to last year, Zhou said: “What was very clear is that right now last year I was super nervous, and very tense. "Now I feel a bit more understanding with the team, with Formula 1 cars. So, I am arriving, let’s say into the [shakedown] in Barcelona and [the] Bahrain test, I’ll be feeling a bit more comfortable, a bit more knowing what’s coming." This feature is currently not available because you need to provide consent to functional cookies. Please update your cookie preferences Alfa Romeo reveal their 2023 car and livery Zhou also heaped praise on team mate Valtteri Bottas and the rest of the Alfa Romeo team for helping him during his rookie campaign, as he explained just how much the Finn’s advice has helped him take “another step” ahead of the 2023 season. “Let’s say [when I first joined] Alfa Romeo, I [didn’t] know Valtteri too well. So, I needed to take my time to understand him, the team as well, together with the engineer crew and it’s fair to say that I really enjoyed the first season together. GALLERY: Take a closer look at Alfa Romeo’s new car and new livery for the 2023 season "It’s been a massive help inside and out, from the team but also from my team mate,” said Zhou. “I learned so much from the experience people were giving me and from my rookie season, every little detail, that [improved my] driving ability, driving skills. I feel like I have taken another step compared to this time last year.” Following the launch, Zhou became the first driver to reveal the helmet he will be racing in this season. It's a purple and yellow lid that has his logo on the side, which also features some of the famous buildings from his home city, Shanghai, on the back, and a rabbit on the top – with 2023 being Year of the rabbit on the Chinese calendar. Fans may get their first view of Zhou wearing this helmet at Alfa Romeo's shakedown of the C43 in Barcelona this week, before pre-season testing in Bahrain on February 23-25, and the season-opening Grand Prix at the same venue a week later. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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Better consistency more points better results Bottas lays out 2023 goals with Alfa Romeo after 'mental reset'

Valtteri Bottas says he’s ready to “aim for higher” in his second season with Alfa Romeo, who launched their brand-new C43 – featuring a striking black and red livery – on Tuesday. Bottas made his 200th Grand Prix start and helped Alfa Romeo secure sixth in the constructors’ championship in last season’s finale at Abu Dhabi, and the 33-year-old Finnish racer seems primed to continue his momentum going into the new 23-race season. Speaking at the launch of the new C43 car that featured Alfa Romeo’s new livery, plus visible changes to the floor and rear of the car, Bottas reflected on his preparation going into the new campaign. GALLERY: Take a closer look at Alfa Romeo’s new car and new livery for the 2023 season “I had a good break, which is important, because now as we start getting to the season, then we go pretty much full gas until the end of the year, so like, the mental reset and physical reset is important, so I’m full of energy and keen to go. “We need to achieve more, it’s simple as that, we always need to aim for better, aim for higher, the whole team, and myself included. We always need to keep improving, that’s what drives us, so, expecting... better consistency, more points, better results – but how to get there, that’s the tricky bit. That comes from all the details and working really, really hard together as a team.” Bottas called on the team to show greater consistency in 2023 Notching up 10 career victories and five constructors' championships with Mercedes, Bottas said he has embraced a “very different” role with Alfa Romeo, who last year sparred for sixth place with Aston Martin in a very competitive midfield. “It’s definitely been interesting, like I’ve said multiple times, in this team I feel like my role has been very different to what I’ve ever had, really, in Formula 1,” said the Finn. READ MORE: Alfa Romeo reveal ‘major change’ on new C43 as they target ‘next level of performance’ in 2023 “A bit more involvement, a bit more information going through me in a way. Obviously, the work started early last year together; I tried to give all my experience and technical knowledge I could from the past, and then that work continued throughout the whole of last year. This feature is currently not available because you need to provide consent to functional cookies. Please update your cookie preferences Alfa Romeo reveal their 2023 car and livery “Whether it’s an issue with the car balance or whatever, we’re always feeding back the best we can, and when I’m at the factory I like to get updates on how things are going, and if I have any ideas or questions then I ask and we speak. FIRST LOOK: Alfa Romeo show off 2023 C43 F1 car with striking new livery “So, it's a really open situation in the team and I love to know always as much as I can – details for the new car – and I think it’s fair to say, the set-up direction we’ve gone, the development of the car balance throughout the whole of last year has gone into the right direction, and that work continues, and we’ll see with this new car. “I think hopefully everything is in an even better place in those situations, and we keep working hard.” via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com