Frederic Vasseur, Team Director Alfa Romeo Racing and CEO Sauber Motorsport AG:
"We can be really proud of this result. Getting two cars into the points, just outside the podium positions, is the well-deserved reward for the hard work that everyone in the team has put in. We didn't let our heads hang after the races that went unluckily for us, and now we can celebrate the best result of the entire season. There was no single decisive factor, everyone in the team did a great job - in the cockpit, during the pit stops, in the command post on the pit wall and also in the team base. We made great progress during the last few races, and that has only really become apparent now. We are now looking forward to the chance to show another strong race in Abu Dhabi and end the season on a positive note."
Kimi Räikkönen (start number 7) / Alfa Romeo Racing C38 (Chassis 06/Ferrari)
Race: 4th place / fastest lap: 1.13,135 minutes
Tires: Start – Lap 21: new soft; Lap 22 – 47: new medium-hard; Lap 48 – Finish: new soft
"It's great to finally be able to celebrate our best team result of the season. It was a positive day and we finally achieved the result we worked so hard for. I was alone for most of the race, and only towards the end was I in the thick of the action. I'm disappointed that I didn't get past Carlos Sainz. As it turned out, I would have ended up on the podium. I had the speed and made two attacks, but I couldn't overtake him. You always want to achieve a little more. But in the end, what counts is that we scored decent World Championship points with both cars."
Antonio Giovinazzi (start number 99) / Alfa Romeo Racing C38 (Chassis 04/Ferrari)
Race: 5th place / fastest lap: 1.13,020 minutes
Tires: Start – Lap 20: new soft; Lap 21 – 46: new medium-hard; Lap 47 – Finish: new soft
"I'm so happy, for me and the team. What a fantastic race. Two cars in the World Championship points is the perfect way to celebrate my contract extension with the team for 2020. I had a great start, the best of the year - I immediately gained three places and was in the top 10 from then on. Nevertheless, I still had a lot of hard work ahead of me. Our strategy was perfect. The restarts after the safety car periods were crucial, especially the last one when I was under pressure from Daniel Ricciardo. The last ten laps were crazy. It was really tough, but I managed to stay in front. Everyone in the team did a wonderful job and we can be really happy with our work. We are improving from race to race. We are now focusing on the race in Abu Dhabi to end the season on a positive note."
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About Alfa Romeo:
Since its foundation in 1910 in Milan, Italy, Alfa Romeo has designed and built some of the most beautiful and exclusive automobiles in history. Alfa Romeo continues this tradition today with a unique and innovative approach to automobile construction.
In every Alfa Romeo, technology and passion come together to create a true work of art - every detail is important, every design is the perfect harmony of form and function, technology and emotion. Reviving the spirit of Alfa Romeo and maximising its global image is one of FCA's priorities. Alfa Romeo is opening a new chapter in its more than 100-year history, following a clear and well-defined strategy that represents a unique opportunity to develop the brand's full potential. Today, Alfa Romeo is a prime example of the Group's competence, talent and technological know-how. First with the Giulia, then with the Stelvio, Alfa Romeo has developed two models that express the pure and original spirit of the brand - both are recognizable at first glance as thoroughbred automobiles. Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio perfectly embody the claim of "technology from emotions", which sums up what people expect from the brand. Alfa Romeo is winning the hearts of a new generation and regaining its place as one of the world's most valued premium brands. Alfa Romeo is once again a major symbol of technology and style from Italy, an icon of Italian engineering expertise and Italian character. After a break of more than 30 years, Alfa Romeo announced its return to Formula 2018 in 1 as title sponsor of the Sauber F1 team.
About Sauber Group of Companies: The Sauber Group of Companies consists of three business units – Sauber Motorsport AG, which runs the Formula 1 team – Sauber Engineering AG, which focuses on prototype development and additive manufacturing – and Sauber Aerodynamics AG, which conducts full-scale and scale wind tunnel testing and develops groundbreaking innovations in the field of aerodynamics. The companies work closely together to apply the expertise of more than 450 dedicated employees at the Swiss headquarters in Hinwil to all internal and external projects.
Since its founding in 1970, Sauber has been passionate about motorsport. For more than 45 years, the innovative Swiss company has set new standards in the design, development and construction of racing cars in various championship categories, including Formula 1, DTM and WEC. Following its own Formula 1 debut in 1993, Sauber has established itself as one of the few traditional and private teams in the premier class of motorsport. After 25 years in Formula 1, the team initiated a long-term partnership with Alfa Romeo as title sponsor in 2018 and will compete under the team name Alfa Romeo Racing from 2019.
