The 2022 Formula 1 season will see the most changes to the sport since the hybrid cars were introduced back in 2014. And while every team will be bringing a new car, and some may change their livery, one team, Alfa Romeo, will be altering their name.
Granted, the change is a very small one. Instead of “Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN”, the team will now be called “Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN” as a way to better associate the automaker with what is considered by many to be the pinnacle of motorsport. The new branding is currently live and will make its public debut at F1’s pre-season testing in Barcelona next month, and the changes will affect the official chassis/car name given to the FIA.
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The car, which will be driven by Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou, will confusingly be called the C40 even though last year’s car was the C41 and 2020’s car was the C39. This is because the new 2022 regulations were actually supposed to take effect in 2021, however, since they didn’t, Alfa Romeo decided to hold off on the C40 car name until the new regulations arrived.
On the change in branding, Jean Philippe Imparato, Alfa Romeo’s CEO, said: “For us, adding the wording ‘F1 Team’ to our team’s name is highly significant and makes us proud: it epitomizes Alfa Romeo’s commitment to the most exclusive motorsport competition there is, where this brand has written indelible pages in its history. On the other hand, it represents the team spirit of cohesion, in which Alfa Romeo intends to play a leading role. With this new team and logo, a new, exciting line-up and a new car ready to be unveiled, we are ready for an exciting new season.”
