Alfa Romeo expects its Barcelona upgrade package to take its performance to the next level, with further innovations on the way for the Swiss company.
Alfa has risen from the bottom of the field following the implementation of the new F1 regulations, scoring more points in the first five races of 2022 than it did in the previous two seasons combined, thanks to new recruit Valtteri Bottas.
Although the Hinwil based outfit took a modified sidepod and floor package to Imola, new parts have been manufactured for the Circuit de Catalunya’s round this week.
“The package is working,” said Alfa Romeo head of trackside engineer Xevi Pujolar said in Miami. “It’s a track where we have quite a high content of low-speed corners and on that we knew that we are reasonably OK, but the conditions are quite extreme with the temperature so it has been quite difficult for everyone.”
“In terms of track efficiency and the downforce level it was the first time that we got to such a high level. People tried to find the tradeoff between top speed and downforce in the low-speed corners and that was OK.”
“Now we can be reasonably confident [in the Spain upgrade] that it’s developing the same kind of philosophy and should be a good step for Barcelona.”
“And there’s more coming, so it’s good at the moment.”
Bottas, who qualified fifth in Miami, was leading both Mercedes cars in the final stages of the race until a collision with the wall caused by a moment of attention allowed the Silver Arrows to overtake the Finn.
Pujolar feels Alfa can challenge Mercedes on certain circuits, but the team’s main goal this season is to beat its top midfield rivals, especially McLaren, Alpine, and AlphaTauri.
“For us, coming to [Miami] we were mainly focusing on McLaren, Alpine and AlphaTauri,” said the Spaniard.
“But obviously, if we don’t expose ourselves to those three competitors then Mercedes is our target, we are happy to fight Mercedes on top of that as well.
“For the championship, our realistic targets are Alpine, AlphaTauri and McLaren.”
As for next weekend’s targets, Pujolar said: “The same as the first five races, to be fighting with everyone.
“We’ve shown decent performance at all the tracks, and I think we’ll be at the top of the midfield again, with both cars.”
