Alfa Romeo- Formula One Team

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Alfa-Romeo-car

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Alfa Romeo have been one of the Original teams in Formula One, taking part in the very first World Championship over 70 years ago.

Although the team have not had the most consistent Formula One career they are a name that is very much related to Formula One history. Having won the very first F1 Grand Prix and World Championship, Alfa Romeo will go down in history as one of the first successful F1 teams. Although it hasn’t been smooth sailing, this middle-field team are determined to stay in the F1 game and are persistent on improving year by year.

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Alfa Romeo History

Alfa Romeo have quite the Formula One history. The Italian team has not had the most committed relationship to Formula One. The team is well known for winning the first ever two consecutive Formula One World Championships, however since then the team has not had the same level of success. They also won the first ever Formula One Grand Prix. Drivers Giuseppe “Nino” Farina in the Tipo 158 and Juan Manuel Fangio in the Tip 159 made Alfa Romeo serious contenders in Formula One. After this success, Alfa Romeo decided to take a break from F1.

The team returned in the late seventies and early eighties, however they did not achieve the victories they had hoped and soon withdrew again. In 2019, Sauber rebranded as Alfa Romeo Racing. The new team was made up of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi. The pair raced for the team until 2021 and then Bottas and Guanyu took over in 2022. Alfa Romeo are known as a very much midfield team. Can they improve on their positioning with Bottas and Guanyu behind the wheel?

Formerly known as Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN, the F1 team changed up their entry name in 2022 to Alfa Romeo F1 Team STAKE. A change in name also meant a subtle change in logo, replacing ORLEAN with STAKE. This isn’t the first time Alfa Romeo have gone through a name change. The F1 team was previously known as Sauber F1 team. Stake are the Alfa Romeo’s F1 team’s new title partners, the betting company represent another fresh and new beginning for the Alfa Romeo F1 team.

Alfa Romeo Merchandise

If you are an Alfa Romeo F1 fan and you are looking for some merchandise to show your support then we have you covered. From memorabilia to clothing there are many different Alfa Romeo items for you to choose from. Below we have gathered all the best websites where you can get Alfa Romeo F1 Merchandise to show the world who you support whether it’s race day or not!

F1 Store Front

The F1 store has a variety of different Alfa Romeo F1 merchandise for sale on their website. They also often have good discounts so it is a great option for more high-priced merchandise that you have your eye on. Fans can get polo shirts, drivers t-shirts, rain jackets, softshell jackets, hoodies, gilets and caps in the striking red, black and white colours of Alfa Romeo. The website also sells model cars and backpacks. Everything an Alfa Romeo fan needs to complete their collection. Prices can vary under €20.00 to over €150.00. The most expensive item for sale currently in the Alfa Romeo F1 store is an Alfa Romeo ORLEN C42 model car retailing at a whopping €238.00. Now that’s a superfan purchase.

Fans BRANDS

Fans BRANDS is another website that sells Motorsport merchandise. Here fans can also buy branded caps, beanies, bucket hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets, and even duffle bags to help you carry around all your new Alfa Romeo merchandise. Fan BRANDS have regular sales so you can get more band for your buck. The price range varies from €46.00 to under €200.00. The website is always running discounts also with up 40% off some items.

Alfa Romeo Store

On this website fans can buy Alfa Romeo’s official teamwear and merchandise. On the Sauber group website fans can purchase caps, bucket hats, t-shirts, jackets, softshell jackets and jumpers. The website also has a fanwear section where fans can purchase less traditional merchandise such as lumberjack shirts and hats, Miami hats and t-shirts, and Bottas tank tops and jumpers. For €220.00 you can purchase WEB Alfa Romeo sunglasses. 

Other merchandise items for sale on the website include keychains, lanyards, bags, towels, travel mugs, water bottles, umbrellas and even sweatband sets. Model cars and mini helmets are also available. The prices range from €12.50 to €280.00.

Alfa Romeo F1 Car 2023

The Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s new car for the 2023 season was revealed as the C43

Alfa Romeo entered the 2023 season with a new formula one car, the C43. Alfa Romeo revealed the car at Alfa Romeo’s headquarters in Switzerland. A change from the usual red and white, the bold red and black colours are decorated with the new title sponsor for Alfa Romeo, Stake. Alfa Romeo revealed the new car in a livestream on 7 February 2023. The C43 is 798 kg in weight, 5,500 mm in length, 2,000 mm in width, 970 mm in height and a wheelbase less than 3,600 mm. The C43 is impressive with an updated aerodynamic package, Ferrari Hybrid Turbo V6 engine and 18-inch low-profile tyres.

Technical Director Jan Monchaux paid special attention to improving the speed of the car and ensuring it met new regulations for 2023. The livery of the C43 is quite striking. The C43 was designed in a way to combat last seasons issues of porpoising. Porpoising is essentially a jolted bouncing that the driver feels on the suspension when driving at high speeds. This makes it very difficult for drivers to have complete control of the car when driving. Alfa Romeo hoped that with their new technology and design that they can delay this aerodynamic  phenomenon that occurs.

Alfa Romeo F1 Team Principal

The Alfa Romeo F1 Team is based in Hinwil, Switzerland. As well as being Saubers managing director, Alessandro Alunni Bravi is the Alfa Romeo F1 Team principal for the 2023 season. Technically, Alunni Bravi does not have the exact title of “ team principal” instead he is titled as “‘Team Representative” for the Alfa Romeo Formula One team. Alessandro Alunni Bravi has plenty of experience to take on this role as he was managing director of the team in 2022.

This is not his first time acting in the team principal role as he was the team principal of GP2 team Trident. Alessandro Alunni Bravi will be working alongside Andreas Seidl, the CEO of Sauber Group.  Seidl’s responsibilities will be focused on the groundwork for Audi’s 2026 arrival into Formula One. He will also have help from technical chief, Jay Monchaux and  Sporting Director, Beat Zehnder. The Alfa Romeo F1 Team for 2023 is Valterri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Théo Pourchaire.

Alfa Romeo F1 Media

If you want to keep up to date with the Alfa Romeo F1 team’s progress and news throughout the year you have plenty of media options to choose from. For any F1 fans there is the option to listen to F1:Beyond the Grid podcast to hear exclusive interviews with Alfa Romeo drivers and team members.

If you prefer to watch Formula One instead of listen to it you should check out the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive. The documentary now has five seasons following the Formula One world since 2019 meaning you get inside access and interviews into beginning of Alfa Romeo Racing and how they have progressed throughout the last five years. This is a must watch for all F1 fans.

Website

The official Alfa Romeo website uploads press releases every few days keeping fans up to date on performances in qualifying, grand prix results and upcoming races. Fans can also read about Alfa Romeo’s partnerships, accreditations and mentoring schemes. The press releases give statements by the Alfa Romeo F1 team giving fans an insight into what the Alfa Romeo F1 team feel especially after a race. You can read quotations from drivers Bottas and Guanyu and also from team members such as team principal Alessandro Alunni Bravi. 

Social Media

The Alfa Romeo F1 team can also be found on many social media accounts so you can follow them on your preferred application or all. The Alfa Romeo social media accounts are a great way to keep update with all Alfa Romeo Stake news and updates.

Instagram

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The Alfa Romeo Stake Instagram keeps fans up to date with all Formula One news

Alfa Romeo F1 @alfaromeostake team post regular updates about their progression in Formula One. The media team allows followers to see amazing photos from behind the scenes, of the racers and of the Alfa Romeo team in the pit, still photos of races and of the cars. They also upload stories highlighting every moment during race weekend. They save their race updates as highlights on their Instagram for fans to look back whenever they please. They also keep fans up to date with results of qualifying and races on their feed. 

Twitter

alfa romeo twitter
The Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s twitter accounts gives live updates during Grand Prix races

The Alfa Romeo twitter account @alfaromeostake upload a lot of similar posts to that of the Instagram account but with extra content included. The Alfa Romeo media team use their twitter to share documents and web page links which can’t be done on Instagram. Similar to other F1 twitter accounts, The Alfa Romeo Twitter page gives more up to date information during races, uploading the drivers positioning every few laps. 

Facebook

facebook alfa romeo
The Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Facebook page shows similar news and photos as their Instagram account

The Alfa Romeo team’s Facebook page is very much the same as their Instagram account. They upload results and some behind the scenes photos but you won’t get updates on results and positionings as they happen like the Twitter page. Nevertheless it is still a great way for seeing updates on Alfa Romeo and what is happening within the team.

Tiktok

alfa tik tok
The Alfa Romeo tik tok gives behind the scenes access to interviews with drivers

If you like to watch videos and TikTok is your main source of media then you should follow the Alfa Romeo F1 team’s page @alfaromeostake. Here you will get exclusive videos of the drivers taking part in funny TikTok filters and challenges. You also get to see into their lives on the grid such as the drivers rooms. You also get an inside into Bottas and Guanyu’s humour and work life. This is a must follow for Alfa Romeo fans who crave for behind the scenes footage. The Alfa Romeo Stake tik tok is a great source of F1 entertainment.

Alfa Romeo Drivers 2023

Alfa-Romeo-car

Valtteri Bottas 

From a young age  Valtteri Bottas knew that a career in Formula One was for him. In his youth he won many kart races and he raced with Finland’s National Karting squad for seven years. In 2006, Valtteri moved into single seaters. He won both the 2008 Formula Renault Eurocup and the 2008 Formula Renault Northern European Cup. In 2009, he won the Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort. He won this title again in 2010 making him the first and only driver ever to have won the title twice. In 2011 he won the GP3 Series. Bottas’ F1 career began when became William’s test driver for 2010 and ’11 season and in 2012 he was brought in as a reserve driver. Bottas clearly impressed Williams with his driving as the following year he was promoted to a race seat and competed in his debut FIA Formula One World Championship season.

In 2014 he achieved his first ever F1 podium finish in Austria in 2014, throughout that season he gained a further five podiums and finished a career best of fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. Bottas became known for his point scoring races and it wasn’t long before his diligent driving caught the attention of Mercedes. During his five seasons with Mercedes, Valtteri contributed greatly to all five constructors’ championships and was drivers’ championship runner-up for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. He also had 10 impressive wins with the team. 2022 marked a new beginning for Bottas when he joined the Alfa Romeo F1 team partnering with Zhou Guanyu. The Finnish driver uses the driving number 77.

Bottas Statistics

Podiums67
Points1792
Highest Race Finish1(x10)
Highest Grid Position1
Bottas has quite the impressive points ranking

Zhou Guanyu

Zhou Guanyu made history in 2022 when he became the first ever Formula One driver on the grid from China, making his F1 debut for Alfa Romeo. After watching F1 as a child, Guanyu fell in love with the sport and set out on a mission to do what many would have considered impossible. With the support of his family, Zhou moved to the UK at 12 years of age to pursue his passion. Early in his career, Zhou attracted the attention for the Ferrari Driver Academy who helped him transition into single-seater racing in Europe. In 2015 he showed everyone just how much of a contender he was by winning three rounds of the Formula 4 series.

Over the next three years, Zhou took part in the European Formula 3 series. He made to move to Prema during his second season and placed eight in his two campaigns for the Italian squad. It wasn’t long before other teams saw the Chinese drivers potential and following his F3 series, he was scouted by Renault for their F1 driver programme and made his debut in Formula 2. After an official F1 practice session with Alpine, previous Alfa Romeo Team Principal Fred Vasseur decided that Zhou was the perfect fit for the team and partnered him beside Bottas in 2022. The Chinese driver uses the number 24 when driving.

Zhou Statistics

Podiums0
Points10
Highest Race Finish8(x1)
Highest Grid Position9
Zhou has raced quite well during his two seasons in Formula One

Théo Pourchaire 

Every Formula One team needs itself a reserve driver that they can trust to do the job when one of their main drivers cannot race. Sitting as a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo is French driver Théo Pourchaire. At only 19 years old he finished second in the F2 Championship in 2022. Théo Pourchaire has broken records by becoming Formula 2 and Formula 3’s youngest ever race winner. The 18-year-old first drove for ART in the 2020 F3 campaign, where he finished as runner-up in his rookie season, with an impressive two wins and eight podiums to his name. The French rookie has won a total of 6 races and has made the podium a total of 15 times. I think it is fair to say we will be seeing more of this driver in the near future. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake

We have complied a list of the most frequently asked questions about Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake so you don’t have to spend time searching for them.

Who owns the Alfa Romeo F1 team?

The Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is owned by Sauber Motorsport AG. Sauber have operated the Alfa Romeo F1 Team since 2019 and their title contract will come to an end at the end of the 2023 season.

Is Alfa Romeo F1 owned by Ferrari?

No, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is not owned by Ferrari. Both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo were once under the same institution, however that is long in the past. 

What is the Stake and Alfa Romeo deal?

Stake are Alfa Romeos new sponsors for the 2023 season. With this multi-year partnership, they hope “to accentuate Stake’s recognition within the F1 community and expand opportunities for fan engagement through brand integration and activation.” Stake is dedicated to improving Alfa Romeo’s Formula 1 weekends. The partnership between Stake and the Alfa Romeo F1 Team will undoubtedly help to increase their digital audience.

How many Grand Prix have Alfa Romeo won?

Alfa Romeo have won a total of 10 Grand Prix throughout their Formula One career. At the time of writing this article they also had a total of 26 podiums. They have also had 16 fastest laps and 12 pole positions. 

How many Grand Prix have Alfa Romeo entered?

Alfa Romeo have entered a total of 201 Grand Prix in Formula One. They have won 10 out of 201 races. 

How many drivers have Alfa Romeo had?

Alfa Romeo F1 team have had a total of 27 drivers throughout Formula One. Some mentionable names are Antonio Giovinazzi, Kimi Raikkonen, Valterri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Mario Andretti, Juan Manuel Fangio and Giuseppe Farina. Alfa Romeo’s 10 Grand Prix wins have come form Fangio and Farina.

Is Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake leaving F1?

Alfa Romeo F1 Team has a title sponsorship contract with the Sauber F1 team until the end of 2023. Sauber will be owned by Audi from 2026, putting an end to the Alfa deal. Despite this, Alfa Romeo has not ruled out remaining in F1.

Who supplies Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake with engine’s?

Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake currently use a Ferrari 1.6 litre V6 turbo hybrid engine in their F1 car the C43. Alfa Romeo does not make their own engine and relies on Ferrari as a customer team. Alfa Romeo do not have the resources to make their own engines which is a big taking, instead they have an engine development collaboration with Ferrari.

We hope this article has been of some use to your understanding and improved your knowledge of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake. If you have enjoyed this article and would like to read more articles on everything Formula One why not have a read of our other F1 related articles such as: Formula One and Red Bull Racing .

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