Meet Kimi Raikkonen's new Alfa Romeo

This is Kimi Räikkönen's new ride. Although the Finn could not be reached for comment immediately after it was revealed in the Barcelona pit lane this morning, his new machine was soon on the track in the capable hands of test driver Robert Kubica.

To be known as Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen this season, the team's race drivers Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi and tester Kubica pulled away the veil to reveal Sauber's Alfa-badged Ferrari-powered 2020 C39 F1 contender. An evolution of last year’s car, it has been treated to a slick new interpretation of the maroon on while colours the team has run in over the past two seasons.

Conceived by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile the new Speed-Pixel graphic is said evoke speed and time on Alfa’s 110th birthday. Closer inspection reveals a neat Alfa Romeo grille shape to the middle of its three ducts in its blackened central nose tip. Each side of that sit lower, more aggressive front wings, while the Sauber-Alfa retains a similar sidepod to last year’s car behind a more Ferrari-like set of deflectors.

“The highly contoured rear wing is of interest, as is an elevated front suspension that now joins the team’s familiar raised rear-set up that has proved something of a trend setter down the pit lane so far this season.  

“The C39 is a natural evolution of last year's car," technical director Jan Monchaux elaborates. “Yet apart from maybe the rims and tyres and some internal components, there's barely a single visible part that is the same, so we expect to improve on what we achieved last season and make a step forward to fight at the top of the midfield.”  

“The C39 is the product of the hard work and vision and is testament to our highly committed team,” Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur added as he joined the F1 pre-season chorus. “We trust this car will move us forward to achieve our objectives – we already did a huge step compared to the beginning of 2018 – now we must continue on this path.” 

Class of 2020. ???????? #C39 pic.twitter.com/grPiXvcs1p

— Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) February 19, 2020