February 7, 2023 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Lean, mean and absolutely gorgeous, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake unveiled its 2023 challenger, the C43, at a launch event held jointly in Zurich and at the team headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland. The world of Formula One has an early contender for the title of most beautiful car on the grid already. The C43, in a striking livery of red and black, will guide Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu in the 2023 World Championship as the team seeks to continue on its path of constant improvement.
As the drivers pulled the covers from the car at the team’s Hinwil base, a series of CGI images and videos of the C43 were released to media and fans, bringing the new Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake car to life. In the reveal video, the C43 emerged from raw materials and atomized parts, the resulting assembly symbolizing how the team is a union of individuals, each playing an important part in ensuring Alfa Romeo F1 Team’s success. To further enhance the fan experience, the C43 was also available in augmented reality, an interactive journey developed by team partner JigSpace.
The livery, designed by Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile, incorporates the growing array of brands associated with the team, with prominent locations for Alfa Romeo and new title partner, Stake, as well as new acquisitions that underline the team’s growing attractiveness to businesses in various sectors. Over the last few seasons, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake has emerged as a leader among Formula One teams, finding fresh approaches to marketing with unrivalled levels of access and a constant push for innovation that extends beyond technical matters.
Following the Hinwil reveal, the drivers joined Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi and Technical Director Jan Monchaux, as well as reserve driver Théo Pourchaire, at the studios of Swiss national broadcaster SRF to meet a selection of fans and to take part in an online press conference with international media.
Designed by the technical team, led by Jan Monchaux, and powered by a new Ferrari power unit, the C43 is an evolution of last year’s successful challenger, the C42; however, due to significant changes to the regulations from FIA, the C43 incorporates several updates and complete new parts with its overall development path still promising a steep improvement curve.
The car shed its “winter livery,” a work of art by graffiti artist BOOGIE, and is now ready to hit the track in a shakedown session, scheduled this week in Barcelona, and for winter testing in Bahrain at the end of the month. In a world’s first, the C43 will be released in the official Formula One video game, EA Sports’ F1 2022, on the eve of the first day of testing, allowing fans to step into the shoes of Valtteri and Zhou and test the team’s new car themselves.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, managing director of Sauber Group and team representative: “Bringing a car to life is a long process that touches every department of a racing team; therefore, it’s a moment of great pride to see it unveiled today. We chose to do it in front of our fans, close to our home, because the launch of a new car is not only a moment to state your objectives for the season ahead; it’s also a time to give back to the people who have supported you, be it in the grandstands, in front of the TV or back at the factory, and express our gratitude for their passion and their belief in our project. Our new car is the result of months of work, but today is just the beginning of a journey. We need to keep working hard with humility and dedication to bring performance to the track. Everyone on the team is committed to this target and I am confident we will reap the rewards of our work.”
Jan Monchaux, technical director of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake: “I am very proud of what we have achieved over these last months, because creating a new car is always a massive effort from the team. This car is an evolution of last year, reflecting the new regulations and introducing major changes in the areas where we found improvements were needed. I hope it’s going to be quicker than the successful car we had last year, that’s what matters most, and more reliable as well. We have put a lot of effort in this direction. Now, it’s time to get to the track and see how this car performs. I’m happy to get back to racing, and I’m confident there will be much more to come from us soon.”
Valtteri Bottas, race driver of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake: “The C43 is finally here, and I cannot wait to bring it on track. I really like our new livery. I think it’s stunning and a fine evolution from last year. It’s been an interesting first season with the team. We made some pretty solid progress together, and now there’s only one direction to follow: up, higher and better. There is obviously still work to do and things to improve, but I am confident we have it in ourselves to aim for even higher results this year. I cannot wait to go back to racing. I am fully charged and eager to get the new season started.”
Zhou Guanyu, race driver of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake: “I am happy to finally see the C43 being unveiled after all the behind-the-scenes work that has been done in the past months. I think we are sporting a beautiful new design for 2023. I look forward to driving the car in Barcelona in the next days, before properly getting the season started with winter testing in Bahrain. Last year, the team made me feel at home from the very start, welcoming me and giving me time to learn and improve. The expectation for this year is definitely higher, and I will carry all the experience from my rookie season into 2023. I’m excited for what’s coming, and I’m fully ready to attack.”
Théo Pourchaire, reserve driver of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake: “First of all, I am thankful and honored to take part in my first Formula One launch as a reserve driver for the team. It is great to see the efforts paying off, and I cannot wait to get started! I have seen the great amount of work that has been put into bringing the car from paper to reality, and I am happy for everyone back at the factory, I think they have done an amazing job. There is, of course, great expectation, and I look forward to seeing the C43 hit the track in just a few days. I feel part of a great family and a great team, and I am determined to do my best and push the limits to achieve the best results possible.”
Alfa Romeo
Born in 1910 in Milan, Italy, Alfa Romeo has designed and crafted some of the most stylish and sporty cars in automotive history. That tradition lives on today as Alfa Romeo continues to take a unique and innovative approach to automobiles. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio sets a benchmark in performance, style and technology in an SUV. The award-winning Alfa Romeo Giulia delivers race-inspired performance, advanced technologies and an exhilarating driving experience to the premium midsize sedan segment. In early 2023, Alfa Romeo will offer its first compact SUV with the all-new Tonale. The globally available Tonale is part of a radical evolution taking place at Alfa Romeo, which looks ahead to a new era of electrification and connectivity. Alfa Romeo is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.
Follow Alfa Romeo brand news and video on:
Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Alfa Romeo newsroom: https://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com/newsroom.do?id=292&mid=446
Consumer website: www.alfaromeousa.com and www.alfaromeo.com
Facebook: Alfa Romeo USA
Instagram: @alfaromeousa
Twitter: @alfaromeousa and @StellantisNA
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA