Alfa Romeo have lost their early-season Formula 1 weight advantage as other teams have brought aerodynamic upgrades, according to Head of Trackside Engineering Xevi Pujolar. New technical regulations for 2022 increased the weight of the cars to just under 800kg, with Alfa Romeo believed to be the only team to have hit the ideal target of 798kg at the beginning of the season. This allowed drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Gaunyu to bank early strong points, with fifth at Imola for the former the squad's best return. However, Alfa Romeo have only scored points – a double haul in Canada – once since May's Monaco Grand Prix, as rival teams such as Alpine and McLaren pull clear. It is something that the Hinwil-based outfit expected, Pujolar has explained.
Alfa Romeo have lost F1 weight advantage
"I think probably some of the teams and the upgrades that they've been bringing in terms of aero performance, they reduced the weight [of their cars]," he told media including RacingNews365.com . "So from our side, that was something that we were happy [with] at the beginning of the season, and some of the midfield or even the top teams had gains to do. "We were quite strong at the beginning because we already had the weight advantage. "I think we can still be close to Alpine, McLaren were quite strong [in Hungary] – but [we can still be fighting] one of them at least towards the top of the midfield."
More upgrades coming for Alfa Romeo
Despite the team's recent poor form, Pujolar was more positive looking forward, saying he believed both Bottas and Zhou would be armed with similar equipment for the Belgian Grand Prix. "In the last few events, we can see competitors bringing more upgrades and we were just one step behind," he continued. "We were waiting for that upgrade [for Bottas], so it was working well. "Now, for the next race, we will have already both cars aligned, so we'll be good." Alfa Romeo hold sixth position in the Constructors' standings, 44 points adrift of McLaren, and 17 clear of Haas.
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