Vasseur “convinced” Alfa Romeo can return to 2018 competitiveness next year

Alfa Romeo has struggled for form in the last two seasons, scoring just 19 points in 2020 and 2021 combined.

The Swiss-based outfit enjoyed a strong year back in 2018, finishing eighth in the constructors’ championship with 57 points as Charles Leclerc impressed throughout the season.

Like many teams up and down the field, Alfa Romeo will be hoping to move up the field when F1 embarks on its major regulation change for 2022.

Speaking during the Qatar weekend, Vasseur said: “The last two seasons were a bit difficult for us but we did a much better ’18/’19 and we have to come back in the mid of midfield, let’s say, to be able to be in Q3 much more frequently and we know that this is a decent step forward but as we stop completely the development of the current car at the end of 2020 and we were fully focused on the 2022 project. 

“I think also that Ferrari will do a good step forward and I’m convinced that we can be back where we were in ’18.”

Alfa Romeo recently confirmed Guanyu Zhou alongside Valtteri Bottas for next year, meaning it has an all-new line-up for 2022.

Vasseur is confident Alfa Romeo’s new pairing will take the team forward.

“I think the combination is an important topic, that Valtteri is very experienced, he’s doing very well,” he added. “He did a fantastic second part of the season this year and he will bring to the team his own experience. 

“And alongside, we will have a rookie coming from the F2 that I think it’s always important for the rookie to have a reference and with Valtteri he will have one of the best references in the field.

“You are always trying to reinforce the team to improve on some positions and we are doing it but I will keep it for me.”

In 2021, Alfa Romeo sits 12 points behind Williams in the race for eighth in the constructors’ championship.