The Alfa Romeo F1 team is having one of its most successful seasons to date. The Sauber ran F1 outfit is currently sixth in the standings, with drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu putting in some impressive drivers between the pair of them. The pace of the Alfa Romeo C42 racecar has dropped off recently, however, an upgrade in the last couple of races has turned things around a bit as Alfa Romeo looks to fend off a resurgent Aston Martin towards the end of the year.
The Alfa Romeo F1 team is currently releasing a video series on YouTube featuring its two drivers, putting the focus on them and going behind the scenes with them throughout the 2022 season. This episode focuses on the intensity and the focus of the two drivers as they prepare for the year ahead, both mentally and physically. Formula 1 is a very physical sport and the drivers need to be at the peak of their powers to get through a year. This video shows a lot of the training that goes into preparing for a season of racing.
Some Dramatic And Intense Shots Ahead Of The 2022 Season
Valtteri Bottas is also asked at the start of the video what he thinks he can achieve and what his plans are for the opening races of the year. He goes on to say that you as a driver draw the limit, and once you are inside the car, everything else disappears and the focus becomes extreme. He says it is a very difficult thing to explain to us mere mortals, and that he is not afraid before he steps into the car. This is then interlaced with footage of Bottas training and heading out on track for pre-season testing.
Bottas also talks about the first time he wanted to become a Formula 1 driver when he was driving his go-kart at the age of six. The Finnish racer sees himself as quite a normal guy but someone who is quite lucky to have experienced a lot in his life up to this point, and he really appreciates the small things in life. This is good when focusing on the small details to go faster in Formula 1. We get to see Bottas out during some pre-season training, with him talking in his native Finnish tongue as well.
A New Challenge For Bottas In 2022
It was a new start for Bottas in 2022. After several years at Mercedes, he has moved over to lead Alfa Romeo’s charge up the grid in 2022 and beyond. Antti Vierula, his sports performance coach, talks about how strong Bottas is mentally and how determined he is to do everything at the highest level possible. Some of the training shots we see of Bottas are quite intense as well. This season isn’t all about Bottas though, as Chinese driver, Zhou Guanyu makes his debut in Formula 1 with Alfa Romeo in 2022.
Zhou talks about how his dream of racing in F1 started very early, watching the first Chinese Grand Prix back in 2004. Zhou has in the past said Fernando Alonso is one of his heroes. He talks about how mental preparation is so important too, with such a long season. The 2022 calendar will feature 22 races with the conclusion set to happen in Abu Dhabi. Jet lag from country to country and adjusting to the time zone makes it quite intense, with little time available to rest and adjust to each country.
A Big Task Ahead For A Rookie Driver
The 2022 season has been a challenge for Zhou, getting used to a new team, a new environment, and of course a new car. Plus, his teammate Bottas is a very fast driver. But Zhou talks about how he is a fantastic teammate, very honest and open, and willing to help Zhou succeed and get up to speed as fast as possible. Bottas also commends Zhou in the video, saying his teammate really is a great guy to work with. As 2022 has gone on, Zhou and Bottas have got closer and the Chinese driver has started to put in some really solid performances.
A Fascinating Insight Into The World Of Formula 1
The video from Alfa Romeo and Sauber gives us a fascinating insight into how drivers get ready physically and mentally for a grueling and daunting F1 season. It is clear that the journey to the top for Zhou has been a tough one and of course, Bottas has had a big change as well ahead of 2022 as he moves from a top team to a midfield team. Alfa Romeo will be hoping they can defend their sixth place in the 2022 standings up until the last lap in Abu Dhabi.
Source: Sauber Motorsport
