Jan Monchaux(Technical Director)[1] Luca Furbatto(Chief Designer)[2] Lucia Conconi (Head of Vehicle Performance) Alessandro Cinelli (Head of Aerodynamics)[3] Nicolas Hennel(Chief Aerodynamicist)
The car is an evolution of its predecessor, the C39. Development of the C40, Alfa's next-generation car, had already begun before the new regulations were pushed to 2022; the designation was retained, with the 2021 car adopting the C41 designation.[6]
2020 cars were carried over into the 2021 season as a cost-savings measure due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To allow development, the FIA introduced a token system allowing teams to develop only certain areas of their cars. Alfa Romeo spent their tokens on improving the nose of the car, adopting a slimmer design to redirect air over the bargeboards.[7]
Assessment and characteristics
Journalists and technical analysts Mark Hughes and Giorgio Piola described the C41 as the most-improved car over its 2020 equivalent, calling it "both more powerful and more aerodynamically competitive than its C39 predecessor" due to a combination of power unit development by Ferrari and Alfa Romeo's own improvements.[7]
Livery
At the Styrian Grand Prix, the car ran with a special livery commemorating the automaker's 111th anniversary while for their home race, they ran in tricolour.
At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, two different messages featured on the engine cover: Räikkönen's car reads "Dear Kimi, we will leave you alone now", this is a reference to his famous quote at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he wins for the first time since two years leaving the sport, while for Giovinazzi's car reads "Grazie di tutto, Antonio" ("Thanks for everything, Antonio").