The Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team unveiled their C39 to the world’s press just before day one of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The former Sauber outfit presented their 2020 race car in the pitlane, having previously given the C39 a maiden run in a camo livery in a Fiorano shakedown earlier.
Drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi were on hand to lift the covers off the new livery, which remains largely unchanged from last year’s design.
The white base colour remains with red trim, but with additional branding for new title partner Orlen – on the front wing endplates, rear wing and sidepod – following its arrival for the 2020 season. The blue lines that were on the 2019 car’s nosecone have been painted red.
New reserve driver Robert Kubica form part of Alfa Romeo’s driving talent following his race stint with Williams last year.
In addition to the C39 launch, Alfa Romeo confirmed it has retained 2020 Super Formula newcomer Tatiana Calderon in a test driver capacity.
So that’s all the Formula 1 race cars from the ten teams. Pre-season testing gets underway at the Spanish Grand Prix race circuit and it will be fascinating which team/car is looking good in the early stages.
The opening round of the championship begins next month at Melbourne, Albert Park. So testing is highly important in terms of getting technical feedback and knowledge.
Social media:
https://twitter.com/alfaromeoracing/status/1230031836853743616
https://twitter.com/alfaromeoracing/status/1230065901225025536
https://twitter.com/alfaromeoracing/status/1230069607324618752
Official website:
https://www.sauber-group.com/motorsport/f1-news/saving-the-best-for-last-the-alfa-romeo-racing-orlen-c39-breaks-cover-in-barcelona/
https://www.sauber-group.com/motorsport/f1-news/tatiana-calderon-continues-as-alfa-romeo-racing-orlen-test-driver-and-ambassador/
News stories on the Alfa Romeo C39:
https://the-race.com/formula-1/new-alfa-romeo-makes-first-public-appearance/
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11937459/f1-testing-alfa-romeo-haas-and-renault-reveal-new-cars
https://www.racefans.net/2020/02/19/first-pictures-alfa-romeo-reveals-its-2020-car-in-its-race-livery/
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.raikkonen-and-giovinazzi-unveil-2020-alfa-romeo-at-testing.137bOz1NaVEGG1dl4UCCjw.html
‘I’m finally back home’ says Kubica after starting Alfa Romeo role. Article taken from Formula1.com.
Robert Kubica’s F1 career began at Sauber back in 2006 – and now that he’s Alfa Romeo’s reserve to Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, it’s all come full circle for the Pole who made an incredible comeback to F1 in 2019.
Kubica took part in numerous practice sessions and testing days for Sauber in 2006 before being called up to the team to make his race debut in place of Jacques Villeneuve mid-season. In just his third start, he scored a sensational podium at Monza.
He eventually had to step away from F1 before the start of the 2011 season after he was severely injured in a rally accident, but he returned to the sport as a race driver for Williams in 2019. But having left the British team at the end of last season, Kubica will also compete in the DTM in 2020 alongside his Alfa Romeo duties.
The Sauber team was rebranded as Alfa Romeo in 2018 – and the Pole says it feels like familiar territory.
“When I started my Formula 1 career in 2006, I started in Hinwil [Switzerland] so I am 14 years older – I am in a bit of a different role but it’s nice to see so many of the same faces, same people who actually made everything happen for me… a lot of things have changed because F1 has changed actually, quite a lot, and the team is developing but the DNA of the team is still the same. I’m finally back home and I hope we have a good year,” Kubica said as pre-season testing got underway in Barcelona on Wednesday.
“Regarding my position, my role at the team is of course a bit different, but actually in 2006 I started as a reserve driver, though at that time testing was practically every week so I had a bit more time, or much more time, in the car.
“As a reserve driver I will have a few duties, not racing, but it doesn’t mean I will be on holiday,” explained Kubica. “I will attend probably most of the races or nearly all races as a reserve driver so in case, hopefully not, something happens to Kimi [Raikkonen] or Antonio [Giovinazzi], I will step up.
“[The] simulator is quite a big topic in current Formula 1 times where testing is limited,” he added, “the simulator is playing quite a big role and is taking a lot of time and a lot of effort. We have a new simulator, we try to develop it to make it work and hopefully it will give us a good tool to prepare for races, and be beneficial.”
With Alfa Romeo hoping for an improvement to their P8 finish in 2019 as they launched the C39 on the first morning of pre-season testing, Kubica’s role is crucial – as Team Principal Frederic Vasseur reiterated.
“We are roughly in the same scenario as last year and we are continuing to recruit and we made a big investment with the simulator,” said Vasseur. “It won’t pay [off] in one day, it’s a long-term project and we have to continue in this direction to develop the company and to invest. All the competitors are doing the same and it’s a big fight. With Robert Kubica on board, it will impact the development of the car.”