Alfa Romeo believes it is “better prepared” than it was in 2020, and has a quicker package, as it bids to improve its Formula 1 prospects.
Alfa Romeo has finished eighth in the championship across the last three seasons and in 2020 amassed only eight points, breaching the top 10 on just four occasions.
Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth overall at the conclusion of testing in Bahrain while Alfa Romeo jointly led the mileage charts after three days of running.
“We feel ready to start the championship and we feel better prepared than last year,” said Alfa Romeo’s Technical Director Jan Monchaux.
“The car was reliable throughout the week and we improved on the weaknesses we had in 2020.
“Now we have to study all the data we have gathered and find a bit more performance on both the single lap and over a race distance.
“Everyone will have raised their game by the time we’re back here [for the first races] and we’ll need to be ready.”
Raikkonen feels Alfa Romeo’s C41 is a stronger prospect than its predecessor, the C39, but expressed caution over making any predication.
“Times in testing don’t mean anything and, right now, we don’t know how all the other teams are performing,” he said.
“But we know how our car does, and feeling wise, it is better than last year.
“I guess we are faster than at our best at the end of 2020, but whether that translate into a better performance in the races, that we will have to see.”
