Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN were happy to get points in the first race of the season, but the team also fell victim to some of the chaos of a wild Austrian Grand Prix.
It was Antonio Giovinazzi who brought home points for the Swiss outfit, as he brought the C39 to a ninth-place finish after qualifying eighteenth.
The Red Bull Ring is the same track where Giovinazzi scored his first Formula 1 points last year and a clean race meant two more points for him today.
Giovinazzi expressed how proud he was of the team’s efforts in the first of two races at the Red Bull Ring.
“I am really happy with today’s result. After our difficult qualifying yesterday, to get to the points was the maximum we could do,” Giovinazzi said in a press release.
“The race wasn’t easy, we struggled a little at the start but we got stronger as the race went on. Of course, in such a chaotic race you need a bit of luck, but we were ready to grab any chance with two hands when it came.
“We put up a big fight for this and in the end, ninth place is a great way to start the season. I am really happy for the guys and girls in the garage and back at home. There’s still a lot to improve but it’s just the first race of the season: there’s plenty of time and I am already looking forward to being back in the car next week.”
Team Principal Frederic Vasseur was delighted with the result as well as the improvement of the car’s pace compared to qualifying.
“Scoring points in the opening race of the season is always a good thing, but there are more positives than just the result at the chequered flag,” Vasseur said.
“Our race pace was a definite step forward from yesterday’s qualifying and we were able to extract more of the potential of the C39. As a team we kept a cool head during such a rollercoaster of a race and to bring home points is a good reward for all the work ahead of this race.
