Motorsport.com delves into Giorgio Piola’s 2019 archive and brings you insight into the relentless development undertaken by the teams throughout a season in the pursuit of more performance. In today’s gallery we will focus on… Alfa Romeo.
The rebranded Sauber team started the season well, with Kimi Raikkonen (who switched places with Ferrari-bound Charles Leclerc) scoring in the first four races, then another four out of five before the summer break – as penalties in the German Grand Prix, for clutch setting offences, cost a double points payday.
After the break, the team really struggled for pace – with only the chaotic Brazilian GP truly falling its way with a pair of top-five finishes.
Alfa Romeo Racing C38 front wing detail
The C38 garnered plenty of attention when it was launched, as the team had taken a seemingly aggressive approach to the new front wing regulations for 2019, opting for the ‘unloaded’ solution.
Alfa Romeo Racing C38 fins
Alfa continued its aggressive aero stance when it introduced these fins on the transition of the nose, opting for four feather-like fins instead of the singular L-shaped fins used elsewhere on the grid.
Alfa Romeo Racing C38 rear wing detail
Alfa’s rear wing utilised these pinched sections on the upper leading edge of the endplate as the aerodynamicists looked to limit the damage caused by the introduction of new regulations that had ruled out the louvres that had become commonplace in the last decade.
Alfa Romeo Racing C38, front wing and nose
For the British GP, Alfa Romeo showed up with a new nose solution featuring a ‘cape’, much like the majority of the field. Changes were also made to the front wing, with a revised footplate design the most prominent feature.
Alfa Romeo C38 endplate design, German Grand Prix
The team made further changes to the front wing footplate for the German GP, as the dividing strake altered to suit the track characteristics at hand.
Alfa Romeo C38, front wing
The cape solution was refined further still later in the season, as the team looked to improve its aerodynamic output.
Alfa Romeo C38, front wing, Brazilian GP
Having fielded an unconventional upper flap on the front wing throughout the course of the season, which featured only short slots in the outermost and innermost sections, Alfa revised the design in Brazil, opting for a full-length slot.
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