Valtteri Bottas says his involvement in Alfa Romeo’s Formula 1 operation away from the observe is not like something he skilled beforehand in Formula 1.
The 33-year-old started his F1 profession in 2010 as a check driver at Williams. He spent two years as reserve driver earlier than incomes a race seat in 2013.
After three seasons and 9 podiums, Bottas moved to Mercedes for 2017, partnering Lewis Hamilton. The staff was run by Toto Wolff, who left Bottas’s administration staff following the transfer to keep away from a battle of curiosity.
Bottas spent 5 years at Mercedes, profitable ten grands prix and twice being championship runner-up behind staff mate Lewis Hamilton. He moved to Alfa Romeo final 12 months, and got here tenth within the standings in his first season with the staff.
“I think in this team I feel like my role has been very different to what I have ever, ever had really in F1,” mentioned Bottas on the launch of Alfa Romeo’s 2023 F1 automotive.
“A bit more involvement, a bit more information going through me, in a way, and obviously the work started early last year together. I tried to give all my experience and technical knowledge I could from the past, and then that work continues. Throughout the whole of last year, always, whether it’s an issue with the car balance or whatever, we’re always feeding back the best we can.”
Bottas’ time at Alfa Romeo began on a excessive, scoring seven occasions of their first 9 grands prix collectively. They solely scored two extra occasions within the remaining 12 races of 2022, though each of these had been on the finish of the season because the staff turned extra aggressive once more after long-delayed car updates had been launched.
“When I’m at the factory, I like to get updates on how things are going. And obviously if I ever have any ideas or questions, then I ask and we speak. So it’s really, really open situation in the team and I love to know always as much as I can about all the details with the new car.
“I think it’s fair to say like the set-up direction we’ve gone, the development of the car balance throughout the whole last year has been going into the right direction, and that work continues. And we’ll see with this new car. I think hopefully everything is in an even better place in those situations. And we keep working hard.”
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