Is the atmosphere still good at Alfa Romeo?

In 2019, the future of the Sauber team looked very promising. Frédéric Vasseur, in charge, had maintained the partnership with Ferrari (during the year 2017), concerning the engine, while Alfa Romeo joined the adventure as a title sponsor in 2018 before giving its name to the team.

On the drivers’ side, Kimi Räikkönen made his big comeback to the team that launched his F1 career, accompanied by Antonio Giovinazzi, the first Italian driver in the top category since Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2011.

Despite a complicated end to the campaign in 2019 (excluding the Brazilian Grand Prix), the team’s first season was generally satisfactory. Two years later, the situation has changed significantly.

Alfa Romeo is weighed down by a Ferrari engine lacking in horsepower (although improving now as of 2020), which partly explains the team’s lack of performance. However, the team’s technical choices, due to limited resources, are also subpar (the departure of Simone Resta during the 2019 season may have been costly for the team). The chances of scoring points are also hampered by sometimes disastrous strategies and pit stops.

The atmosphere with the drivers has also deteriorated. Kimi Räikkönen, soon to retire, recently expressed his desire to end it all on Canal Plus. His boss, Frédéric Vasseur, also opened up on the encrypted channel’s Twitch channel about the end of the Finnish driver’s career at Alfa Romeo.

« Managing the end of Kimi’s career is not so complicated because he is quite consistent and has not changed much in the last three seasons.

The French compare Räikkönen’s attitude with that of Lewis Hamilton in a team.

« Kimi is in his bubble and for a team it can be difficult to live with. Usually, the driver is the leader and the energy catalyst but Kimi, on the contrary, is a bit distant with everyone and it can weigh on the team even though he has a devilish aura and a great charisma. In a situation like the one where we have five races in six weeks, the little extra energy from someone like Lewis Hamilton, a kind word, is always nice. But we don’t always get it, that’s just how he is, and we have to deal with it. »

Despite everything, Vasseur recognizes the immense talent of the veteran even though he is struggling during this season’s qualifications.

« He has the ability to manage races on complicated weekends, like in Mexico. He can do an amazing job, his understanding of the race is exceptional. »

The situation is not any rosier with Antonio Giovinazzi, who is probably experiencing his last races in Formula 1. The Italian expressed his great disappointment with the team, particularly following the Mexican Grand Prix.

Number 99 had mocked his team following a strategy that cost him a potential top 10 finish, according to him.

Alfa Romeo, however, still has the opportunity to take eighth place in the constructors’ standings from Williams (twelve points separate the two teams). The Hinwil team, which had achieved a good result during its last visit to Brazil (both cars had crossed the finish line in the top five), would like to reduce the gap this weekend.