Alfa Romeo reveals its target for the second half of the 2023 F1 season

Alfa Romeo is currently amidst a highly-competitive battle in the lower half of the F1 grid.

Alfa Romeo reveals its target for the second half of the 2023 F1 season

Valtteri Bottas driving the Alfa Romeo C43 (image via Motorsport.com)

Alfa Romeo has failed to make a mark in the 2023 F1 season. The Sauber-run team is currently ninth in the championship standings with nine points. The Swiss team is currently preparing for Audi‘s takeover of the squad in 2026. Now, Alfa Romeo’s Head of Trackside Engineering, Xevi Pujolar, has shed light on the team’s objectives for this season.

Pujolar admitted that the competition is close in the lower half of the pecking order. Four teams in the bottom of the standings are separated by just a handful of points, from Williams in seventh place to AlphaTauri in tenth. As such, any improvement or upgrades can provide massive gains to Alfa Romeo. He told Motorsportweek, “Everything in the midfield is very, very tight so just one-tenth for us… it makes a big difference.”

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Xevi Pujolar was adamant that the Sauber-run squad’s ultimate aim is to challenge the top teams in F1. However, for the 2023 season, Alfa Romeo will continue working towards its goal of finishing seventh in the standings as the team tries to build itself before Audi’s entry in F1. The 50-year-old explained, “Then if we want to go towards the top teams it’s another challenge but for us at the moment. Focusing on that P7 – it’s extremely tight in that midfield.”

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Alfa Romeo prepares for Audi’s arrival in F1

Audi's F1 announcement livery (image via Evening Standard)
Audi’s F1 announcement livery (image via Evening Standard)

Audi will take over 75% of Sauber Motorsports by 2026 as the German carmaker converts the team into its works entry. The auto giant will make massive investments to fight for victory at the pinnacle of motorsport. It has also been reported that Audi is looking to sign Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz for the Sauber-run team in 2025.

Sauber’s partnership with Audi will end its multi-year title sponsorship deal with Alfa Romeo. The Italian carmaker first partnered up with the Swiss team in 2017 under the leadership of now-Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur. As such, it is expected that the Alfa Romeo F1 team will revert back to the Sauber name next season before transforming into Audi’s works entry.

Thus, Xevi Pujolar outlined Alfa Romeo’s goal for the end of the 2023 season. The Swiss team remains keen on securing the seventh spot in the Constructors’ championship after having a tough start to the season. Although, fans would be looking forward to seeing if the Sauber-run team can come out on top in the highly competitive lower-midfield F1 battle.

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