ALFA Romeo’s Formula 1 team was among ‘the rest’ in last year’s season, again dominated by Red Bull and Mercedes — and hounded by Ferrari.
But 2023 could well give the team a title of a different kind: most beautiful car on the grid.
Described as being ‘lean, mean and absolutely gorgeous’, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake has just unveiled its 2023 challenger, the C43.
Finished in a striking livery of red and black, the C43 will, with luck, guide Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu to some success in the 2023 World Championship.
Stake? It’s the team’s new crypto currency sponsor.
The livery was been designed by Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile, ‘the excellence of the Italian brand and a manifesto of Made in Italy.’
The C43 is an evolution of the C42 and was designed by the technical team led by Jan Monchaux and has a new Ferrari power unit.
It incorporates several updates and complete new parts, with its development path promising a steep improvement curve in 2023.
The car is now ready to hit the track in a shakedown session in Barcelona, and for winter testing in Bahrain.
“Bringing a car to life is a long process which touches every department of a racing team,” managing director of Sauber Group, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, said.
“The launch of a new car is not only a moment to state your objectives for the season ahead.
“It’s also a time to give back to the people who have supported you, be it in the grandstands, in front of the TV or back at the factory, and express our gratitude for their passion and their belief in our project.
“Our new car is the results of months of work, but today is just the beginning of a journey. We need to keep working hard, with humility and dedication, to bring performance to the track.
“Everyone in the team is committed to this target and I am confident we will reap the rewards of our work.”
Team technical director Jan Monchaux said creating a new car was always a massive effort.
“I hope this car is going to be quicker than the successful one we had last year, that’s what matters most, and more reliable as well. We have put a lot of effort in this direction.
“I’m happy to get back to racing and I’m confident there will be much more to come from us soon.”
And what do the drivers think?
“I cannot wait to bring it on track,” Valtteri Bottas said.
“I really like our new livery, I think it’s stunning, and a fine evolution from last year’s one. I am fully charged and eager to get the new season started.”
And teammate Zhou Guanyu was also enthusiastic.
“I am happy to finally see the C43 being unveiled after all the behind-the-scenes work that has been done in the past months.
“I think we are sporting a beautiful new design for 2023, and the expectation for this year is definitely higher.
“I’m excited for what’s coming, and I’m fully ready to attack.”
As for Stake, well, Alfa is keeping surprisingly quiet about it.
Unlike most crypto marketing outfits, Stake operates as a crypto casino and is owned by a company in Curacao – but it also operates from Melbourne, although it’s legally not open to Australians — nor can it advertise in Australia.
Meanwhile, until other Formula 1 teams reveal their designs for this year, Alfa Romeo can safely stake its claim to being the most beautiful car on the grid.
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