Formula 1
Alfa: Beating Aston Martin makes “big difference” to 2023 F1 budget
Alfa Romeo boss Fred Vasseur says that the prize money earned for sixth place in the Formula 1 constructors' championship will make a “big difference” to the Hinwil outfit.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Nov 27, 2022, 12:24 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The team secured the position in Abu Dhabi after finishing equal on points with Aston Martin, and winning on a countback of best individual race finish.
It was the best result in the standings for the Sauber-run operation since it finished sixth in 2012, and followed two eighth places and a ninth in the three years under the Alfa Romeo name.
With each position representing an estimated $10-12m of extra F1 prize income, the result will allow the team to push up to the cost cap limit in 2023, which wasn't the case this year.
"It's the best way for us to have a good winter, because everybody will be on a positive mood," Vasseur told Motorsport.com. "And this is very important.
"On top of this it's always crucial I think to have this kind of fight for us with Aston Martin - in terms of target it's a good one. And for sure it will be also very helpful on the financial side.
"As we are below the cost cap, every single push will be a big difference. We will see next year, but for sure it will help.
"I know that some teams said that with $2m you can do nothing, but with $10m we will be able to do a lot!"
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR22, Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Vasseur said the team did a great job on strategy in Abu Dhabi, with Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas tasked with holding up the Aston Martins and stopping them from getting too far into the points.
In the end Lance Stroll finished eighth and Sebastian Vettel 10th, with the latter unable to make a crucial pass on Daniel Ricciardo in the closing laps.
"If we had a better quali I think we'd have a fight on our own to score points," said Vasseur.
"But with the quali we had we had no other option but to try to control a little bit the situation with the strategy, and we did it well.
"They both played a lot the team side, and they did a great job on managing the situation with Vettel and Stroll. And for sure we can thank them at the end when we see that Vettel is fighting with Ricciardo."
Read Also:
- Binotto exit rumours ramp up amid resignation report
- Unbranded Aston brought back memories of 2002 Jaguar F1 test for Alonso
- Mercedes thinks it can avoid F1’s spiral of decline precedent
Vasseur admitted he was nervous when Lewis Hamilton's late retirement promoted both Astons.
"It was more than tight! I was quite relaxed on the pit wall until the issue for Lewis. And they both improved by one position, and it became a bit more tricky.
"And the last couple of laps, I was the biggest fan of Daniel! For sure if Vettel was able to overtake Daniel it would have been another story.
"But for us at the end it's a great achievement, and also the best preparation for next year."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Unbranded Aston brought back memories of 2002 Jaguar F1 test for Alonso
Next article McLaren's F1 partnership with Gulf won't be extended
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Latest news
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
1 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
2 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
3 h
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe