Bahrain GP: Preview – Alfa Romeo

We’re hungry, we’re motivated and we’re prepared.

The beginning of a brand new season is at all times a giant second. Numerous expectations, months of labor behind the scenes, lengthy nights of winter testing – all converge into this one race, the beginning of 9 months of competitors in the direction of the final word accolade.

This yr’s Bahrain Grand Prix is an much more essential juncture in time: it is the beginning of a brand new period of Components One, with new vehicles, new guidelines and, who is aware of, maybe a brand new hierarchy throughout the grid. It is the beginning of a brand new chapter for the crew, with a brand new title, Alfa Romeo F1 Group ORLEN, and two new drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, becoming a member of the crew and keen to make their mark. It is the beginning of a brand new story, one that can take us all the way in which all over the world, touching 5 continents earlier than we head again to the Center East for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The sensation of readiness because the season begins is one thing particular: as thrilling and holding promise as the primary day of faculty; as inebriating as a genepy after a day within the Alps; as loaded with thriller and expectation as a sealed envelope holding a secret.

As we line up on the grid in Sakhir, a brand new period arrives. Alfa Romeo F1 Group ORLEN is prepared: let the race start.

Frederic Vasseur, Group Principal: “It is lastly time to start out the season and I believe we’re as keen as anybody to see the place everybody actually is when it issues. Some may even see it because the second of reality however, in actuality, it’ll nonetheless take just a few rounds to have a clearer concept of the pecking order. Nonetheless, factors are on provide on Sunday and we have to do our final bits of homework after the take a look at to verify we’re in the very best form come raceday. Everybody again at base and right here on the observe has completed an enormous job over the winter: now it is time to reap its rewards. We’re hungry, we’re motivated and we’re prepared: now we have two drivers keen to point out their mettle within the cockpit and I’m certain we are going to all get pleasure from being again in a aggressive setting after the winter break.”

Valtteri Bottas: “This race is the beginning of a brand new chapter in my profession and I’m assured I can obtain the objectives I set along with the crew. I have been impressed by the work ethic I’ve discovered since I first obtained to Hinwil and by the work we did over the winter: we encountered some points in testing, however I do know we’re on high of them and we are able to give attention to reaching the very best consequence on Sunday. It may be an extended season and it is nonetheless a little bit of a query mark by way of the place everybody stands: I believe everyone seems to be wanting ahead to a bit extra readability this weekend! The vital factor, nonetheless, is that we preserve working to unlock all of the potential of the C42 and we give attention to having a clear weekend: this fashion, we are going to maximise our probabilities to return dwelling with an excellent consequence to start out our season. I imagine on this crew and I imagine we are able to obtain a lot if we work onerous collectively.”

Zhou Guanyu: “I’ve been dreaming of creating my debut in Components One for years: this weekend shall be an unforgettable second for me and my nation. It is a second I’ll relish, and so will my household and everybody who helped us on this journey: now we have labored so onerous to be right here and I’m grateful for all of the assist I’ve obtained over time. The onerous work does not cease with my debut, after all: I’m now in probably the most prestigious and aggressive motorsport sequence and I’m conscious of the scope of the problem forward. I understand how onerous I might want to work and the way fast I might want to be taught: fortunately, the crew is round me and so they have been very good at serving to me be prepared for this second. I do know so many individuals shall be watching me on Sunday and I need to make them proud.”