Bottas dreams of a podium with Alfa Romeo
Valtteri Bottas hopes that the change in regulations will offer more opportunities for small teams and does not hide his ambition to secure his first podium for his new team since his return to the top category.
It is as a seasoned fighter at the front of the pack for years that Valtteri Bottas arrives this season at Alfa Romeo. The two-time vice-world champion joins a team in great difficulties, having concluded the 2021 season in second-to-last place in the constructor’s championship with only 13 points.
Nevertheless, the former Mercedes driver does not come without ambition and the regulation change this year gives some ideas to the Finnish driver.
“I still haven’t given up on the goal I have of one day winning the championship. But for now, I dream that we can take a good step forward as a team and I feel that consistently scoring points would already be a great success, but secretly, I dream of being on the podium with an Alfa Romeo,” he declared.
Bottas relies on the fact that the cars will be fairly close in terms of aerodynamic concept, but also on the fact that top teams will no longer be able to develop as extensively as they used to due to capped budgets.
Bottas: (e) We will see different drivers on the podium, even smaller teams will have great opportunities. (e)
« I have the impression that it’s going to be exciting because with what I’ve learned about regulations, so many things are now restricted on what you can do in each field. Between the teams, the aerodynamic and mechanical design of the car, there isn’t a huge difference. So, I think the whole season will, hopefully, be much closer. We will see different drivers on the podium, and the smaller teams will also have great opportunities.
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As a reminder, since its return to competition in 2018, Alfa Romeo’s best result is the 4th place achieved by Kimi Räikkönen at the thrilling Brazilian Grand Prix in 2019.
