*** Bottas ‘motivated’ for stronger F1 season with Alfa Romeo | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Bottas ‘motivated’ for stronger F1 season with Alfa Romeo

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas is looking forward to getting back on track for the new Formula 1 season, which kicks off this weekend with the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023.

“Once again, a long season is ahead of us: I am very motivated to get back on track and eager to score good results, both for us here in Bahrain and for the home team in Hinwil: their effort is essential to get the cars on track,” Bottas said ahead of this weekend’s events.

“We know we have it in us to do well, and we must stay focused to unlock the full potential of the C43. Let’s go racing!”

Bottas has finished four times on the podium in Bahrain—all with Mercedes—but has yet to win. Last year, his first with Alfa Romeo, he was classified an impressive sixth, and this time he is looking to clinch an even better result.

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“It’s been an interesting first year with the team, we have become stronger over the course of the season, and we made some solid progress together,” Bottas said.

“Now, the direction to follow is only one: up, higher, and better.

“I think these first few days will help us getting a proper idea of where we are standing compared to the other teams and see who our direct competitors will be.

“ Teammate Zhou Guanyu, also in his second year with Alfa Romeo, shares Bottas’s excitement.

“I learned a lot during my rookie year, and I will take all the experience with me into 2023, to improve even further.

We achieved good things together as a team, and of course the expectation for the season is definitely higher.

I feel much more at ease compared to a year ago, at the verge of my debut –and I am ready to turn this to my advantage.

Now, I feel ready to face all the on-track challenges again.

There’s still a lot to learn and to be achieved, and I’m excited to see what’s coming for us as a team: I am very much looking forward to it.”