Alfa Romeo have unveiled C43 car which will compete in 2023 F1 season.
Alfa Romeo’s latest car will once again be driven by Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou after the pair were retained for a second season at the team, having helped the Swiss team finish sixth in last season’s constructors’ championship.
Theo Pourchaire meanwhile will continue in his role as Reserve & Test Driver for another season and also compete in F2 for a third season, where he will be favourite to clinch the title with view to a seat in F1 next season.
At a launch event held jointly in Zurich and their Headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland, Bottas and Zhou unveiled the striking red and black livery of the C43, which left both drivers “happy” with the new livery and car.
Describing his thoughts at their new livery, Bottas commented: “I really like our new livery, I think it’s stunning, and a fine evolution from last year’s one.”
Bottas though is setting his ambitions higher than their sixth-placed finish of last season as he added: “It’s been an interesting first season with the team, we made some pretty solid progress together, and now there’s only one direction to follow: up, higher, and better.
“There is obviously still work to do and things to improve, but I am confident we have it in ourselves to aim for even higher results this year. I cannot wait to go back to racing, I am fully charged and eager to get the new season started.”
Zhou meanwhile hailed the livery as “beautiful” and can’t wait to hit Barcelona, Spain, for a shakedown later this week ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain between 23-25 Febuary.
Last season saw the Chinese driver make his rookie bow with a tenth-placed finish on debut in Bahrain to earn one point, which was the first of three top-ten finishes as the team allowed Zhou “time to learn and improve” in F1 without pressure.
Zhou therefore is aware that the pressure will be on him to improve further this season as he said: “The expectation for this year is definitely higher, and I will carry all the experience from my rookie season into 2023. I’m excited for what’s coming, and I’m fully ready to attack.”
Alfa Romeo Technical Director, Jan Monchaux meanwhile iterated that the C43 will be “an evolution” of the C42, reflective of new regulations whilst also making “major changes” to parts which needed improvement.
Monchaux who has replaced Frederic Vasseur as the leader of Alfa Romeo following the Frenchman’s move to Ferrari, also admitted that he hopes that the C43 has “quicker” pace and more reliability than last year’s car.
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