Valtteri Bottas claims Alfa Romeo needs to be ‘perfect’ to score points in the rest of the 2023 season

Valtteri Bottas believes that there is no margin of error for Alfa Romeo in 2023.

Valtteri Bottas claims Alfa Romeo needs to be ‘perfect’ to score points in the rest of the 2023 season

Valtteri Bottas (image via Insider)

Alfa Romeo has had an underwhelming 2023 season so far. The Swiss team is currently stuck in a close battle in the lower half of the pecking order with the likes of Williams and Haas. Valtteri Bottas suggests that the Sauber-run team will need to perform perfectly to achieve good results in the second half of the season once the sport resumes this weekend.

The Finnish driver recalled a tough session at the Belgian GP before the start of the summer break. Bottas believed Alfa Romeo failed to get the timings right with cars during Qualifying. He said, as reported by Racefans.net, “In both of the qualifyings [in Spa], it was just a bit messy overall. Timings, we didn’t get it quite right, etcetera.” The Swiss team has failed to be a regular contender for points this year.

Bottas highlighted the fact that the team needs to function optimally if it wants to succeed. The 33-year-old claimed that Alfa Romeo will only score points if it operates smoothly along with the good pace of the car. He explained, “For sure the car pace is important, but also operationally, you need to be perfect if you want points nowadays.”

Discover: Five times Red Bull replaced a driver in the middle of an F1 season

Valtteri Bottas hints at new upgrades for Alfa Romeo

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

The 33-year-old revealed that the Sauber-run team has been working on new upgrades for the C43. As such, Bottas hoped that Alfa Romeo could make gains in the coming races. Although, the Finn admitted that rivals might have similar packages in the making. Valtteri Bottas stated, “There is something in the pipeline after the break, but it depends so much on the other teams.”

Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas have scored nine points for Alfa Romeo, as the Swiss team stands ninth in the standings. The Sauber-run squad would look to improve its results by the end of the season as it prepares itself for Audi’s takeover in 2026. Bottas intends to continue with the team and potentially secure his seat when it becomes Audi’s works entry.

Thus, Valtteri Bottas is convinced that Alfa Romeo must stay clear of errors in the remainder of this year. The Swiss team is in a tight battle for seventh in the championship. Bottas knows that the team must perform at its best if it wants to achieve some decent results this year. Although, rivals will be ready to match the Sauber-run squad.

In case you missed it: