Packaging cool

Racecar looks at the design and engineering changes made to the 2020 Alfa Romeo F1 contender

- GEMMA HATTON

For the second season running, one of the most interesting cars in the Formula 1 pitlane is not a Mercedes or a Ferrari, but an Alfa Romeo.

Cast your mind back to the beginning of the 2019 season, when the technical regulations encouraged simplified aerodynamic design, with wider front wings, standardised endplates and complex structures on front wings banned. Alfa Romeo’s C38 arrived at pre-season testing with the most extreme example of an ‘unloaded’ design, which quickly made it the talk of the town.

As a reminder, this is where the height of the front wing elements dramatically taper downwards from the nose to the endplates, reducing downforce but promoting outwash. This year’s C39 generated slightly less technical discussion at pre-season testing, but the concepts under the skin of the red and white car are just as radical.

The 2020 season is one of the anniversaries. Not only does it mark 70 years of Formula 1 itself, but also 50 years of Sauber Motorsport. During that time, the team has competed in 28 F1 seasons, the last two under the Alfa Romeo banner, a manufacturer which in turn is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year.

Throughout Sauber’s 486 F1 race career, the team has claimed 27 podiums and scored a total of 922 points. The Swiss outfit has also been successful in sportscar racing, winning the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1989 and securing the crown of overall sportscar champions two years running in 1989 and 1990.

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