Valtteri Bottas is confident that the twisting roads of Monaco will suit his Alfa Romeo C42 as he sets his sights on his 68th career podium. The former Williams and Mercedes driver has finished inside the points at every race he has completed in 2022, with his best result being a fifth at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. But he will be looking to go one step further in Monte Carlo in a car that he says promises to be "really good" at a track like the Circuit de Monaco. "I think Monaco is quite suitable for our car," Bottas told media, including RacingNews365.com . "It's mainly slow-speed corners, and our car is really good in slow-speed corners."
Bottas right to expect Monaco joy for Alfa Romeo
The numbers certainly support Bottas' claim, with the Alfa Romeo having been the third quickest car through Barcelona's narrow and slow-speed final sector during qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, faster than Mercedes. That leaves the team with a strong foundation to build on heading into a Monaco Grand Prix weekend where Sunday rain showers are possible. But are the sport's new, heavier and less nimble cars going to prove extremely difficult to race in Monte Carlo? Bottas answers: "I don't think it's going to be a huge difference. It'll be maybe a bit more challenging, but the same."
Bottas confident in ending 37-year wait for Alfa Romeo podium
It has been 37 years since Alfa Romeo last claimed a podium in Formula 1, with Riccardo Patrese finishing third at Monza behind the wheel of the 890T. The team's last win, secured by the great Juan Manuel Fangio, occurred in 1951. When asked if it is only a matter of time before Alfa end the wait for a top three result, Bottas replied: "I think so, but we need to make sure we're there. We need to be the best of the rest and then, with a bit of luck, it can happen. "The upgrades we had in Imola, you can feel them, and the same [in Barcelona]. It's nice that we've been able to make progress and keep fighting for similar-ish points positons."
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