Alfa Romeo problems ‘quite clear’ after F1 testing - Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen says it was “quite clear” after Formula 1 pre-season testing that Alfa Romeo was going to face a difficult 2020 season.

For the third season in a row, Alfa Romeo ended the year eighth in the constructors’ championship but endured a trickier time of things in 2020, scoring just eight points across the 17-round campaign in contrast to the 57 it scored in 2019 and 48 it managed the year before.

Raikkonen finished a season-best ninth place at Mugello and Imola and recorded just a single Q3 appearance when both he and Alfa Romeo teammate Antonio Giovinazzi progressed to the top-10 shootout in Turkey.

“For sure it’s not what we expected before the season started or wanted,” the Finn said.

“I think it became quite clear after testing that we were not where we wanted to be but there’s obviously many reasons why we’re not that fast as we were, but, from that side, it’s obviously disappointing.

“I think last year we did, let’s say, a pretty decent job even if later in the year we were definitively not where we wanted to be.

“Obviously hopes were higher but quite soon obvious for all of us that we weren’t going to be where we liked to be.”

While development for 2021 is limited with teams carrying over their current cars, Raikkonen is hopeful Alfa Romeo can still make improvements and take advantage of a brand new power unit being developed by engine supplier Ferrari.

“A lot of work has to be done for next year, so that we are in a better position,” Raikkonen explained.

“We just have to work and try to do a better job next year, but that’s how it goes, some years are more tricky for many reasons and, obviously, in this sport the car makes a huge difference.

“Good or bad, I think every year you have disappointing results, good results and some results in the middle. It’s the name of the game.”