A team in transition – How Alfa Romeo are balancing short-term targets with long-term planning ahead of Audi switch

Sixth place in last year’s constructors’ championship was the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo team’s best result for a decade and raised hopes of continued progression ahead of Audi’s arrival in 2026 when they will become a works operation. But that hasn’t transpired this year, with the Swiss team down in ninth and struggling to get on terms with their midfield rivals.

They’ve scored in four races, one more than rivals Williams and Haas but they have been lower scores, leaving them two points adrift of the duo. The C43 has had a few peaks over one lap, with Zhou qualifying a superb fifth in Hungary, but it has largely been erratic. On Sunday afternoons, their long run pace hasn’t been consistent enough, in part because they haven’t been able to keep up with their rivals in the development race, or they’ve made too many mistakes, either operationally or with regards to production.