Antonio Giovinazzi says his prospects of mounting a recovery at Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix were hampered by race-long issues denying him radio contact.
Giovinazzi dropped to 17th on the grid at Sochi Autodrom after Alfa Romeo opted to equip his C41 with a fresh gearbox ahead of the race.
But while team-mate Kimi Räikkönen undertook a well-timed switch to Intermediate tyres, which catapulted him into eighth, when the rain fell Giovinazzi stayed out on slick tyres.
He eventually classified in 16th, ahead only of AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Haas’ Nikita Mazepin.
“It was an eventful race with lots going on,” said Giovinazzi.
“I was hit in Turn 2 and I lost a few places there: in addition, I was without radio from the first lap, so it was impossible to communicate with the team.
“It was a difficult afternoon, especially when the rain started at the end of the race and I couldn’t talk to the pits about the tyre change.”
Räikkönen’s eighth place was his and Alfa Romeo’s best result of a tricky 2021 campaign.
“We managed a good start, getting some positions and then following the Alpine for most of the race,” he said.
“I felt the car was behaving well for most of the race, but we were too slow to really make progress and most of the race we were behind him.
“I felt we had more speed, but when the straights opened up I had no chance to overtake him and luckily we made a right call at the end.
“I felt that it was already too wet, we were one of the first ones to come in to change tyres and it paid off in the end.”
