Alfa Romeo’s performance in the recent Qatar Grand Prix has left the team feeling optimistic about its progress. Both Valtteri Bottas and his teammate Zhou Guanyu finished in the top ten, with Bottas securing eighth place and Zhou in ninth. This result has moved Alfa Romeo up to eighth place in the constructors’ table, surpassing Haas and now only seven points behind Williams. This achievement is a testament to the team’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Alfa Romeo has been introducing a series of new parts over the past few races, with the beam wing being the latest addition. The introduction of this component has proven to be the finishing touch needed to optimize the performance of the entire package. Bottas expressed his satisfaction with the team’s recent steps, stating that they now have a better understanding of the upgrades. However, he acknowledged the need to address their dragginess and improve straight-line speed.
Bottas and Zhou adopted different strategies for the Qatar race. Bottas started on soft tires, pitting early under the safety car to switch to a set of mediums. He then completed three long stints before crossing the finish line. On the other hand, Zhou started at the back of the grid and embarked on a long opening run before a brief stint on soft tires towards the end. Despite the differing approaches, both drivers managed to score valuable points for the team.
Bottas commended the team for their excellent strategy and highlighted the clean race they had. Although it felt peculiar to stop early on from a promising position, Bottas explained that it allowed for equal stints and ultimately proved to be the fastest way to the finish line. He also acknowledged the stroke of luck with Lewis Hamilton’s absence and Carlos Sainz’s failure to start, which facilitated their progress up the order. Sometimes, a bit of luck is necessary in Formula 1.
After a string of disappointing races, Zhou was particularly relieved to be back in the points. Starting from 19th position, he engaged in a battle with Sergio Perez and successfully held him off, which played a crucial role in his ability to catch and overtake him towards the end of the race. Zhou expressed his contentment with securing points for the team and emphasized the importance of this achievement.
Looking ahead, Zhou believes that catching up to Williams in the constructors’ table might still be quite a challenge. However, he sees it as a worthwhile target for the team to strive for. Zhou also highlighted their superiority in racecraft compared to Haas, as evident from their overtaking of the rival team. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the need for improvement in their Saturday performances, as the last three events have been somewhat messy for him personally.
Alfa Romeo’s recent performance in the Qatar Grand Prix has been a significant step forward for the team. Their progress, showcased by their eighth and ninth-place finishes, has helped them climb up the constructors’ table. With a better understanding of their upgrades and continuous development of new parts, Alfa Romeo is determined to narrow the gap to Williams. The team’s strategic decisions and a touch of luck on race day have contributed to their recent success. With Zhou’s relief and determination, Alfa Romeo is poised for further growth in the upcoming races.
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