Alfa Romeo, the new midfield contender

Although it is still too early to establish a clear order of forces in the paddock this season, some lessons are emerging after the first round of the World Championship in Bahrain. One of them concerns the performance of the new Alfa Romeo C41. The Swiss car was particularly promising throughout the weekend, as evidenced by Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi’s 11th and 12th place.

Such an overall result contrasts with the one obtained a few months earlier during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, where both drivers finished in 15th place (Räikkönen) and 16th place (Giovinazzi).

A new Ferrari engine that is much more powerful than last year and effective aerodynamic progress are responses to the performance shown by Alfa Romeo. The team has also introduced a new front wing, betting its tokens on this part of the car.

A feeling of trust within the team

Alfa Romeo’s team principal, Frédéric Vasseur, shared his good feelings about the future after Bahrain.

We have shown that we are capable of fighting for a place in the top 10. We can be optimistic for the rest of the season.

He adds: « we take away a lot of positive from it. In Imola, we are ready to fight again for a place in the top 10.

Fred Vasseur takes the opportunity to assert his team’s new status, which he now believes is part of the midfield, far ahead of his usual competitors from 2020, Haas and Williams: (“Although we left Bahrain with no points, we have regained our place in the midfield. The results will follow!”)

Fred Vasseur, team principal: « we have regained our place in the midfield. The results will follow! »

The two drivers of the team also agree on the significant progress made by the team.

« The car reacts well, as it did during the tests. It is clear that we have taken a big step forward compared to last year,” analyzes Kimi Räikkönen, while remaining aware of the remaining progress to be made. « We still have work to do to reduce the gap with the top five teams. We continue to fight,” emphasized the 41-year-old grid veteran.

Kimi Räikkönen: « it is clear that we have taken a big step forward compared to last year. »

« Compared to last year, we are much faster and we have a better car so we can be happy with our progress,” rejoices Antonio Giovinazzi. However, paradoxically, the Italian driver had scored points in the first race of 2020, finishing ninth in Austria after a crazy race. But the rest of the season had not been very glorious: 4 entries into the top 10 in the last season, for only eight points and an eighth place, far from the 57 points collected in 2019.

It remains to be seen if Alfa Romeo can continue on its momentum and disrupt throughout the season. An answer will be given on Sunday, April 18 at the next Grand Prix in Imola.