Alfa Romeo was dealt a blow in its combat with Williams for P8 after an eventful wet-dry Hungarian Grand Prix, by which Williams driver Nicholas Latifi and George Russell not solely bought their first factors of the season on the board however grabbed a 10-point haul to maneuver firmly forward of Alfa within the constructors’ championship.
Latifi’s and Russell’s seventh and eighth place respectively meant that Williams heads into the summer time break with a seven-point lead on the Swiss-based group, which added one level to its tally courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen’s tenth place after each he and Antonio Giovinazzi acquired a penalty.
Raikkonen was given a 10-second penalty for an unsafe launch after a pitstop, whereas Giovinazzi was hit with a 10-second cease and go for dashing within the pitlane.
Regardless of the Hungaroring setback, Alfa Romeo believes it might probably nonetheless outscore Williams within the second half of the season.
Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing C41
Photograph by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
“It will likely be not simple, however I feel it’s potential,” stated Xevi Pujolar, Alfa Romeo’s Head of Trackside Engineering.
“We’ll attempt. I feel on the finish of the day it could have been a lot worse from the place they had been at first, so I’m nonetheless glad about it.
“We wished to have each vehicles in Q2, we wished to have each vehicles in entrance of the Williams, so we achieved that.
“On lap one every thing is simply gone however nonetheless we had an opportunity there. Then they’re each forward, and each of our vehicles have a penalty. That was much more difficult.
“However now the distinction in factors, I feel it’s not big and we’ve nonetheless bought a whole lot of races to do, so I feel we will try this.”
Pujolar says getting each Raikkonen and Giovinazzi into Q2 on Saturdays , prefer it managed in Hungary, would be the key to grabbing the odd level right here and there.
Barring distinctive circumstances like final Sunday, when a number of contenders had been taken out firstly, he is assured that it will likely be harder for Williams to attain extra factors within the second half of the season than for Alfa Romeo.
“I feel underneath regular racing situations, we couldn’t obtain it in a single go, but when now we have nonetheless a number of races to go, then that is achievable,” he defined.
“We’ve got bought many races to do but, and I feel if we will put each vehicles in Q2 after the shutdown, we will try this in all probability.
“On a couple of events I feel we will rating factors. I might say it could be harder for [Williams to score points].”
When requested if there are specific circuits developing which may favour Alfa Romeo in its combat in opposition to Williams, Pujolar believes there aren’t any particular tracks that go well with his group’s automotive, however that it has a strong probability on most tracks to be in competition for prime 10.
“I feel there aren’t any particular tracks. I feel in most tracks, we will carry out moderately properly if now we have each drivers [in Q2].
“I feel we will preserve that and preserve that on tracks the place you run most downforce, in tracks the place the effectivity degree is a bit increased.
“I don’t see any explicit observe format to be doing that from Spa as much as the top of the season.”