Valtteri Bottas will be the only recipient of Alfa Romeo’s new upgrade introduced at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
The Swiss side are introducing a raft of evolutions to their C42, including a revised floor, altered wings and varying suspension from what they have run in the opening five rounds of the season.
Some of those changes may well be related to the specific requirements of the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, but in any case, Zhou Guanyu will not be running with the new car.
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It was reported by journalist Piergiuseppe Donadoni, who confirmed that the Finn, who has scored points in four of the opening five rounds this season, is set to be given the boost.
“Only on the Alfa Romeo C42 of Valtteri Bottas will the important update package provided for the Montmelo [Spanish Grand Prix],” he tweeted.
Evidently, going by his impressive performances, Bottas has settled in nicely at Alfa Romeo, and he described the excellent harmony he feels with his car at present.
“I feel really good with the car and really happy with it,” he told Rosanna Tennant on Thursday.
“I feel like it really suits my driving and I’m enjoying every single lap.”
The 32-year-old conceded that the new technical regulations have necessitated a slight change to his driving style but, on the whole, he believes the 2022 challenger is more adapted to his style than any other F1 car he has driven before.
“For sure, always you need to change your driving a bit and also [there is] the new generation of cars, the tyres, it’s a bit different,” he explained.
“But like I said, it’s probably the most suitable car for me I’ve had ever.”
The 10-time race winner went into a little more detail about the new parts his team have brought to the weekend in Barcelona.
“Quite a few things actually,” revealed Bottas.
“I think they’re going to be quite visible in a way, so some bits for the front and rear suspension, new front wing, new floor, things like this… new rear wing, maybe, I think.
“I think it’s a decent package, so let’s hope it works well.”
The simulator in Zurich has come a long way in recent months, and Bottas was able to jump into the confines of a virtual race car to give the new package a try.
“I was in the sim yesterday actually so yes we could try the new package virtually,” he said.
“It feels good, I hope it feels the same on track.”
However, he cannot quantify how much of an advantage it might have given the car compared to its previous iteration.
“No I can’t tell you,” he said with a smile.
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“It’s hard to predict, obviously we have numbers in theory and from the simulator but yeah… because we made a step in Imola definitely with the upgrade, I think it’s going to be at least that kind of step again so I hope so.”
Bottas is currently eighth in the Drivers’ Standings having achieved a best finish of fifth so far this season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.