Alfa Romeo become first team to announce 2021 F1 car launch date

Alfa Romeo will launch its latest Formula 1 car in Poland next month ahead of the 2021 season.

The Swiss side has become the first F1 team to officially announce a specific launch date ahead of the upcoming campaign, with the unveiling of its new C41 car to take place on Monday 22 February, just over two weeks before pre-season testing gets underway in Bahrain.

Alfa Romeo has picked Poland’s capital, where some key operations of title partner PKN Orlen are based, to present its 2021 challenger - though an exact time and location are set to be announced closer to the date.

The continuation of Orlen and Alfa Romeo’s collaboration suggests that Robert Kubica will be retained as a test driver, though this has not been formally communicated by the team.

Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur said at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that the Hinwil-based outfit was eager to continue the relationship with Kubica, who made five FP1 appearances through 2020 in the C39 car.

The 2021 cars will largely be the same as their predecessors, with teams carrying over their 2020 chassis into the new season as part of a cost-saving measure in response to the financial uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result of this, some teams have opted to adjust the name of last year’s car, with Red Bull moving to the RB16-B and McLaren calling its 2021 challenger the MCL35M.

Following its transition from Renault, the new-look Alpine squad is also set to reveal its A521 car at an as yet unspecified date in February after presenting an interim livery at the company’s launch last week.

The rebranded Aston Martin works team has also confirmed it will unveil a new livery for its 2021 F1 car at an event in March at its Gaydon headquarters, with new signing Sebastian Vettel set to be in attendance alongside teammate Lance Stroll.

Ferrari’s SF21 car is set to be presented at winter testing in a move away from the Scuderia’s traditional presentations in Italy.

The remaining six teams, including reigning world champions Mercedes, are yet to confirm their respective launch plans.

The delayed season opener will take place in Bahrain on 28 March, forming the start of a planned record-breaking 23-round calendar for 2021.