Bottas hopes to help Alfa Romeo grow: 'That gives me that extra boost'

Alfa Romeo became the last Formula 1 team to present their new car for the 2022 season on Sunday morning. This makes it the only team to show the car to the public only after the winter test in Barcelona. That winter test was not particularly successful for Valtteri Bottas, but he is confident that everything will fall into place.

Bottas on the C42 of Alfa Romeo

Bottas managed just ten laps on the final day of testing in Barcelona and finished the test with the 20th fastest time. Despite this, he believes the team has gathered enough data to go into the next test in Bahrain with confidence. "Testing helped us confirm our expectations of where we stand, the progress we have made with the car, but now we are getting closer to the moment that really matters," he said in a press release following the team's launch.

Furthermore, the Finn states that he is impressed with the new Alfa Romeo car and its livery. "It’s my first car at Alfa Romeo of course, which makes it special," continued Bottas, who is looking forward to appearing on the grid in Bahrain.

According to Bottas, the unknown factor at play for all teams is the most exciting thing about the upcoming season. "We have no idea how that first race is going to pan out," he added. However, he has noticed that the team is extremely motivated and even works harder than others to be competitive. "That in turn gives me that extra boost when I am in the cockpit," Bottas concluded.