2023 Launch/Pre-Season testing

[Skam85]

So two almost identical liveries and a black and white Haas. Not a high bar to clear for the rest of the grid.

[E.B]

Today its Alfa Romeo / Sauber's turn to reveal

10:00 AM CET, so just under an hour from now (45 minutes to be precise)
Live Stream link follows

https://youtu.be/bZep6SIcfcI

[billy bleach]

Any chance of actually seeing a 2023 car at some point?

[ScotsBrutesFan]

More black from AlfaRomeo, in an unimaginative black front with Red down the nose and on the rear.
At least they have a title sponsor

[steve_r]

I quite like it, although not blown away.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

More black from AlfaRomeo, in an unimaginative black front with Red down the nose and on the rear.

Still some weight issues out there I think, especially lower down the grid...

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Still some weight issues out there I think, especially lower down the grid...

Yep - "black" = unpainted carbon fibre. I'm sure last season we saw some teams having more black as the season went on as they tried to shave weight off the car.

I thought the Alfa was one of the lighter cars last season (certainly at the start of the year I seem to remember it was one of the few being touted as under the weight limit). Maybe it's gained a few pounds over the winter.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by FIRE

No major sponsor(s)?

Isn't Gulf the major sponsor? They are the first in the list of Williams Racing's partners and then there is the livery.


https://www.williamsf1.com/partners

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Looks a little like an Audi livery? A little Marussia as well. I do like the wheel covers tho.

Hard to tell from the dark pictures but this looks like an actual 2023 car? Engine cover/packaging larger, nose different and more bit on the floor?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by steve_r

I quite like it, although not blown away.

Got to be a record - the “car” is already for sale!

[S griffin]

The final Alfa car. Why have they gone from Red and White to Red and Black? I preferred the former, reminded so much of the Marlboro colours. Maybe that's why....

Be interesting to see if Williams go for Gulf colours as has been suggested

[bjohnsonsmith]

Too much black,





I preferred last year's car.

[chillibowl]

2023 moustache launch is pretty sweet tho!

[seanyb505]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Looks a little like an Audi livery? A little Marussia as well. I do like the wheel covers tho.

Hard to tell from the dark pictures but this looks like an actual 2023 car? Engine cover/packaging larger, nose different and more bit on the floor?

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Too much black,





I preferred last year's car.

They do mention there's some red bull inspiration. These back to back pics show a significant difference in side pod inlet shape, which does start to look like a high pod that red bull had.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by S griffin

The final Alfa car. Why have they gone from Red and White to Red and Black? I preferred the former, reminded so much of the Marlboro colours. Maybe that's why....

No, weight.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Any chance of actually seeing a 2023 car at some point?

We'll see some at the Bahrain test in a couple of weeks although the final versions may not all be seen until the Bahrain race weekend.

[billy bleach]

As well as being unveiled to the public, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake C43 is now up for auction on F1 Authentics on https://Inkd.in/ exnKxxA4.
It is expected to reach in excess of £400,000.
This marks the first time ever that a Launch Car has been made available to own at the time of official launch.
For full press release, please contact Laura Sexton in our team here.
Formula 1
#alfaromeof1teamstake #alfaromeo #f1 #formula1 #formulaone #f1partnership #sportsmemorabilia #f1racecars #f1showcars
#2023f1carlaunch #f1carlaunch #sportspartnership #2023f1season

[Sodemo]

Is it time to have a moan about how long the cars are still?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Isn't Gulf the major sponsor? They are the first in the list of Williams Racing's partners and then there is the livery.


https://www.williamsf1.com/partners

With "no major sponsors" I mean there's no big logo on the engine cover and sidepod.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by FIRE

With "no major sponsors" I mean there's no big logo on the engine cover and sidepod.

Right. Pick whatever name you want such as "title sponsor" or "primary sponsor", etc. It is clear Williams doesn't have one. I think each team will have a "rate card" in which if you buy in at the top, you can add your name to the team, pick the colors and/or livery, and the cheapest thing on the rate card gets your name somewhere in small print!

It's clear the team is running their colors and their livery, the team is not renamed, they don't have anything in the prime spots on the car such as the sidepods. Given how much Gulf is mentioned in the launch, etc. it sounds like they are up at the top of all of the sponsors, but not quite at title sponsor level.

I expect part of this is also that Williams is holding firm on their advertising rates as well??? There probably was tremendous pressure for Gulf to be title sponsor, but at a lower rate than what Williams wanted to accept. If they cave in when negotiating, they then devalue their ability to earn sponsorship money. In short, you don't want to sell your title sponsorship cheap. Even if you are at the back of the grid.

Richard

[chillibowl]

Dorilton Capital seems to be a bit of a mystery still. they are an investment firm so i assume they like money but they dont seem to be going after major sponsorship or deep pocket pay drivers anymore.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Dorilton Capital seems to be a bit of a mystery still. they are an investment firm so i assume they like money but they dont seem to be going after major sponsorship or deep pocket pay drivers anymore.

IMHO...

I think they are going after sponsors. They may be holding the line on not selling space on the car cheap (see my post above regarding their rate card) As to pay drivers, they probably want to claw off the back of the grid. All speak to being a focus on performance and increasing value of the team. I think they are doing the right thing.

Richard

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Is it time to have a moan about how long the cars are still?

You can if you want, but the rule is 3600mm maximum wheelbase so that's what they are. There is still a big empty space between the engine and gearbox where there is a spider frame, where various suspension parts are placed inside.

The teams refused the FIA's original suggestion of a 3400mm (IIRC) maximum wheelbase rule.

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Got to be a record - the “car” is already for sale!

I assume they are genuine bodywork parts made in the real moulds. But is this an interpretation of the rules where since these parts are going on a show car, they don't count to the budget cap? So they can refine the process for the examples that go on the actual racecar?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

2023 moustache launch is pretty sweet tho!

Yes, it's gonna be strange to see him without it now

[bathurst77]

THe williams looks good, and if you squint you can almost see sponsors