Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen has unveiled its new Formula 1 contender, the C42. Designed under F1’s new regulations, the C42’s design was led by technical director Jan Monchaux and incorporates the new ground-effects floor, updated aero package, and 18-inch low profile tires.
“Designing and building this car has been a huge undertaking and we can be proud of what we have achieved, but our work is not finished,” Monchaux said. “As always in a new rules cycle, the development curve will be at its steepest this season and we need to continue extracting new performance out of the C42 to make the progress we have set as an objective for ourselves.”
The Alfa Romeo F1 team has a new driver lineup with 10-time F1 race winner Valterri Bottas and rookie Zhou Guanyu.
The veteran driver raced for Mercedes-AMG F1 last season and finished third in the drivers’ championship with 226-points, including a victory at the Turkish Grand Prix.
“I am impressed by our new car, the C42,” Bottas is quoted in the team’s news release.“It’s my first car at Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen, of course, which makes it special, and I am really looking forward to being on the grid in Bahrain with it. What is exciting is that we have no idea how that first race is going to pan out.”
In additon to Bottas and Guanyu, who is the first F1 driver from China, the driver lineup includes reserve driver Robert Kubica.
The C42 is powered by a Ferrari engine.
Last season Alfa Romeo finished ninth in the Constructors’ Championship last season with 13-points.
F1 pre-season testing continues from March 10-12 at the Bahrain International Circuit. The season starts March 20 with the STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
