Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake has revealed its livery for the 2023 season, whilst also becoming the first team to show its new car for this year’s campaign.
The Swiss-based squad has unveiled its C43 machine and given the first glimpse of what the 2023 F1 cars will look like.
Considering there has been no major regulation change, it is no surprise to see great continuity in the cars for this year.
However, notable differences are still visible, and Alfa Romeo has been applauded for showcasing (at least some of) its 2023 package.
There will, of course, be changes between now and the first round in Bahrain, but this does not detract from the significance of this launch.
After finishing 6th in the standings last season, Alfa Romeo will hope to build on their foundations and establish themselves in the midfield pack.
The likes of McLaren, Alpine and Aston Martin will make it difficult for Alfa to keep this position, so the team must ensure it addresses its weaknesses from last year.
One positive for Alfa Romeo is its new sponsorship agreement with Stake – which will help them get closer to the budget cap, assisting the team in this transitional phase as it prepares for Audi’s takeover.
Audi has already bought minority shares in Sauber – as part of their plan before entering F1 in 2026 – but Alfa Romeo’s time in the sport is not yet over.
With Alfa Romeo departing at the end of the year and Audi not joining officially until 2026, the Swiss team will benefit quite significantly from this financial boost.
Here is what Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu said ahead of the upcoming season:
Bottas: “The C43 is finally here, and I cannot wait to bring it out on track. I really like our new livery, I think it’s stunning, and a fine evolution from last year’s one. 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: “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 I am looking forward to driving the car in Barcelona in the next days, before properly getting the season started with winter testing in Bahrain.
“Last year, the team made me feel at home from the very start, welcoming me and giving me time to learn and improve. The expectation for this year is definitely higher, and I will carry all the experience from my rookie season into 2023. I’m excited about what’s coming, and I’m fully ready to attack.”
