New Alfa Romeo C43 takes to track with different floor
The new Alfa Romeo C43 Formula 1 car appeared without the radical serrated edge floor seen on launch renders when it made its track debut in Barcelona on Friday.
Valtteri Bottas gave the car its first track mileage at a filming day at the Spanish GP venue, with Guanyu Zhou due to sample it in the afternoon.
It was the first appearance of the real car, previously seen only in show car form and in renders, and also the first track running for any 2023 F1 machine.
The Swiss team has paid particularly attention to the rear end of the car, which has a new gearbox and very different rear suspension and cooling layout compared to the C42.
PLUS: How the last Sauber-built Alfa offers F1 2023 evolution clues
However the major focus for all teams even at shakedowns and in Bahrain testing will be the impact of the new floor regulations, which have been introduced to prevent the porpoising that was such a feature of the 2022 season.
The C43 is running a notably different floor in Spain compared to that seen in the renderings and on the show car, which had a very distinctive edge, featuring cut outs.
Alfa technical director Jan Monchaux is hoping that the rule changes, and the extra knowledge that teams now have, will have addressed the problem. He also cautioned that the team needs to have a trouble-free test, especially in Bahrain.
“We have only three days of winter testing,” he said. “And if we were caught in a similar situation to last year, it would be a nightmare.
Alfa Romeo C43
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
“Because if we spent a day and a half in the garage, trying to fix the car, like happened last year during the first test in Barcelona, then the start of the season would be really in jeopardy.
“So the hopes are quite high, from what the FIA said, and all the metrics all the methods we've developed in-house, that the topic will be delayed, because you can't really get rid fully of a phenomenon.
“You can just postpone or delay the moment it gets triggered. And I hope with the changes of the rules and the work we've been doing also developing the new floor that it will be delayed up to a point where we effectively never gets there, and never have the porpoising.
PLUS: The crucial tech changes F1 teams must adapt to in 2023
“The very fact that I said probably means we will have some porpoising, I just hope it will be another team, and not us!"
Teams are only allowed to do 100kms on the two filming days they are allowed per season, using demo Pirelli tyres.
All teams are expected to undertake shakedowns in the coming days, with the UK-based operations running at Silverstone. Some teams, including Williams and Aston Martin, are set to use the second of their two filming days in Bahrain, just prior to the start of official testing.
Verstappen hopes Netflix understood concerns about Drive to Survive
How do F1’s sustainability goals fit with a 23-race calendar?
Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying
Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying
Losail upgraded as Qatar promises F1 race will be annual “World Cup”
Losail upgraded as Qatar promises F1 race will be annual “World Cup” Losail upgraded as Qatar promises F1 race will be annual “World Cup”
Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise
Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise
Team Penske cars will join Indy 500 “dogfight”, says O’Ward
Team Penske cars will join Indy 500 “dogfight”, says O’Ward Team Penske cars will join Indy 500 “dogfight”, says O’Ward
F1 Monaco Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more
F1 Monaco Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more F1 Monaco Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more
Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris
Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris
Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying
Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying Hamilton set-up tweak "made life harder" in Monaco F1 qualifying
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks? Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.