Bottas and team-mate Zhou Guanyu completed eighth and ninth at Losail, with the latter leaping the penalised Sergio Perez within the last outcomes.
The six factors earned transfer the Hinwil outfit above Haas to eighth place within the constructors’ desk, leaving it simply seven behind Williams.
Alfa has introduced a stream of recent elements over current races, culminating in a beam wing that was introduced in Qatar, and which was in impact a completion to assist the brand new package deal work successfully as an entire.
“I really feel like we undoubtedly made some progress now, and at last perceive 100% the upgrades,” stated Bottas concerning the crew’s current steps.
“In fact, the subsequent race is kind of a special observe once more, nevertheless it looks as if we had been undoubtedly a bit extra aggressive this week.”
Requested if the beam wing was the ultimate piece within the puzzle he stated: “It undoubtedly helps a bit of bit. However we’re nonetheless draggy.
“I feel we’re in all probability nonetheless the slowest on the straight, so one thing to work on.”
The 2 drivers took reverse methods for the Qatar race, with Bottas beginning on softs and dumping them underneath the early security automobile earlier than operating three lengthy stints, and Zhou doing a protracted opening run from his again of the grid beginning place, adopted by a quick outing on softs on the finish.
Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
Photograph by: Alfa Romeo
Bottas stated the crew had finished job on race day, whereas admitting that issues for others had helped to maneuver him up the order.
“A extremely clear race,” he famous. “Good technique. In fact, it felt a bit unusual to cease after three laps from place!
“However in the long run, that meant all the remainder of the stints had been simply equal stints, and we thought that may be the quickest strategy to the flag and it was, so pleased with that.
“In fact, we had been fortunate in a means as a result of Lewis [Hamilton] was out, then additionally [Carlos] Sainz did not begin.
“So yeah, in any other case it will have been tough. However typically you want that little bit of luck. And as we speak, we simply acquired all the pieces proper.”
After a current disappointing run, Zhou was relieved to be again within the factors.
“It was an incredible race,” he stated. “Firstly very completely satisfied to get factors for the crew. From my aspect beginning P19 it was not simple, preventing with Sergio at first, I knew if I stored him behind possibly I might have an opportunity.
“And that was the case, the laps I held him helped me for the tip stint and catching him.”
Guanyu Zhou, Alfa Romeo
Photograph by: Alfa Romeo
Requested concerning the probabilities of the crew overhauling Williams he stated: “I really feel to catch them continues to be fairly far, however I feel that is simply an excellent goal for us to achieve now.
“I feel purely on racecraft, we’re higher than Haas, and we lastly caught them and overtook them.
“However we have to enhance Saturday, it has been a messy one, the final three occasions for me. So clear that up and we’ll have extra alternatives.”