Like many System 1 groups, Alfa Romeo endured a troublesome journey to the Styrian Alps final week. Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu left Purple Bull Ring behind with no level to indicate for his or her efforts, as each drivers ending exterior the scoring in Saturday’s F1 Dash race, the Sunday Grand Prix.

Because the workforce heads to Silverstone for this weekend’s British Grand Prix, they’re wanting ahead to getting again within the struggle, and bringing dwelling some much-needed factors.

Within the workforce’s media preview of the British Grand Prix, Group Consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi famous that Alfa Romeo is bringing a package deal of upgrades to Silverstone, upgrades that he hopes will change their course.

“We head to Britain this week, after a difficult weekend in Austria, the place our performances didn’t fairly match what we had proven in earlier races,” stated Alunni Bravi. “Nonetheless, we should hold our spirits up: we’re bringing a brand new, essential package deal to Silverstone, on which the workforce again at base in Hinwil has been working onerous over the previous months, and it’ll hopefully assist us make our approach again to the highest ten.”

As Alunni Bravi factors out, a few of the competitors has seen a change of their fortune because of current upgrades. Each McLaren — with Lando Norris’s upgraded MCL60 — and Ferrari appeared to take a giant step ahead in Austria.

Now Alunni Bravi is hoping for one thing related for Alfa Romeo.

“We’ve got seen how upgrades have been basic for our essential opponents to make a step ahead: that shall be our essential purpose, for the second leg of this back-to-back,” added Alunni Bravi. “We stay assured, and keen to indicate that Austria simply wasn’t our weekend, however we nonetheless have it in us to battle by way of the sector – and promptly change the tide once more.”

As for Bottas, Silverstone is a circuit the place he has loved a few of his greatest days in F1. In the course of the 2014 season with Williams, Silverstone was the sight of his first-ever second-place end, regardless of beginning seventeenth. All instructed, Bottas has six factors finishes in Silverstone, with 4 podiums.

However he has but to style victory on the British Grand Prix.

“I’m wanting ahead to racing in Silverstone this weekend, one other timeless traditional on the calendar. We’re bringing a brand new package deal there, which ought to assist us regain the shape we had proven final month,” stated Bottas. “We all know on which areas we have to work on to enhance our efficiency, and everybody within the workforce, each trackside and again dwelling in Hinwil, has been placing all their efforts on it. Will probably be essential to get these upgrades proper from the primary observe classes, to place ourselves again within the struggle.”

Zhou’s first British Grand Prix got here a season in the past, and whereas it was not his first race at Silverstone, it’s one he want to neglect. He was concerned in an opening-lap crash that flipped his Alfa Romeo and propelled it upside-down right into a barrier. That drew a pink flag, and he was taken to a close-by hospital for commentary, earlier than being launched.

“We may have some new elements on the automotive for this race, which ought to permit us to make an additional step ahead: I’m eager to get again on monitor and extracting their full potential. Hopefully, we’ll have the ability to discover extra tempo, which we lacked in Austria,” stated Zhou. “Troublesome races can occur; what’s essential, now, is that we preserve our focus and hold working in the direction of getting again into the highest ten immediately.”

He is able to put final yr behind him, and is aiming for a a lot totally different consequence at Silverstone within the days forward.

“After all, I bear in mind the crash I used to be concerned in final yr; that, nevertheless, is a closed chapter, and has been ever since I returned dwelling on that very same day,” added Zhou. “This race is essential to me, as I’ve spent a lot time within the UK: all my motivation this weekend will go into doing effectively in a spot I do know very effectively.”