The Formula 1 racing team Alfa Romeo Sauber presents its C42

Perhaps the biggest cut in Formula 1 regulations in four decades has raised high expectations for the first test drives at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The racing cars return to the ground effect, they literally suck themselves onto the asphalt. This technical trick is intended to bring the field closer together and allow more overtaking manoeuvres. In Montmeló, however, the main topic of discussion was the paintwork of the two Ferrari customer teams. The Haas racing team, which is largely financed by the Russian group Uralkali and is painted in the national colors of white, blue and red, removed the lettering from the racing car after the invasion of Ukraine and let the sponsorship contract rest. There were also discussions about the C42 from the Hinwil Alfa Romeo racing team with its Ferrari engine in the rear. The new car was initially released in a black and white camouflage pattern. This is a popular pattern for new cars in the auto industry, so there was never a military connection.

The secrecy was due to the last sponsor negotiations and the desire for more attention with an appearance on Sunday morning on the digital platforms. The other teams had already left Spain when Alfa Romeo unveiled its final car design.

Inverted color components

Compared to the previous year, the color proportions have roughly reversed, now the vehicle is completely red except for the white middle section. But what is more decisive is that the C42, for which Technical Director Jan Monchaux is responsible, has a significantly higher proportion of in-house developments than before: whether in the gearbox housing or the rear axle. It is also the first car that was created in the Zurich Oberland under the rules of the budget cap: every team in the premier class has to make do with a budget of 145 million dollars this season, which forces more efficiency.

A virtue that has been strong since the old days of Sauber. Alfa Romeo is currently still a little under the limit, which does not include driver fees. And that despite the fact that around 250 new employees had been hired by team boss Frédéric Vasseur in recent years. The strategist had already made the far-reaching decision in December 2020 to focus all his energy on a more promising new car for 2022.

This now increases the pressure of expectations enormously after the lost year 2021, and the vehicle concept presents itself accordingly as radical and aggressive. In its own estimation, it is considered a racing machine that is made to fight. The upcoming season will be the Swiss racing team’s 30th season in the premier class.

Bottas feels the potential

Alfa can no longer afford another year in the lower regions of the table. “We have a lot of confidence that this car will help the team take a big step towards the top,” says Vasseur.

With a completely new driver combination: The 32-year-old Valtteri Bottas replaces his Finnish compatriot Kimi Raikkonen, he finally wants to be team leader after years in the second rank at Mercedes. As the first regular Chinese Formula 1 driver, Zhou Guanyu is already generating a lot of interest, but the 22-year-old is beginning a learning phase.

The whole team had to realize just how tough it can be. During the three days of testing, the C42, like practically all new cars, struggled with hopping movements that the new aerodynamics bring with them, and then later with mechanical problems. The drivers and test pilot Robert Kubica only completed 179 laps, while the front-runner Ferrari completed 439 laps. But Bottas does not like to overestimate the teething problems: “I feel the potential in this car, but we still have to work on the balance.”

The game of hide-and-seek is over, the new season begins in Bahrain on March 20, with three days of testing remaining.