Alfa Romeo boss proud of F1 reaction after fears of suffering "wiped season"

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo boss proud of F1 reaction after fears of suffering "wiped season"

Teams signed a new Concorde Agreement in the year Covid-19 threatened campaign

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Monday 18 January 2021 14:14

Alfa Romeo boss Fred Vasseur believes the reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic from the teams was the "first time" the 'all-for-one' attitude had been seen in the sport.

The 2020 season was delayed from March until July by the global pandemic, with multiple teams, including Alfa Romeo, revealing financial concerns after the season had resumed.

During this time, however, teams had also managed to agree to the new Concorde Agreement in addition to the upcoming budget cap, which Vasseur hailed as a "great achievement".

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"You know, the feeling was very strange because, in March, I was very scared to not be able to race at all," he told GPFans Global. "To have a completely wiped season.

"The reaction, I was quite happy with the reaction from the Formula 1 world, especially the FIA, Jean [Todt] was pushing like hell with FOM and the teams, that we found agreement.

"I think it was the first time we were able to have this kind of attitude, let's say. We signed the Concorde Agreement, the budget cap.

"But then, when we came back to the reality in July, we had the 17 races to do in five months, for sure it was tough."

Alfa Romeo finished the season above only Haas and Williams in the constructors' standings, although rallied to be more competitive in the second half of the season and compete at some races with the tail end of the midfield.

Vasseur expressed his pride for his team's reaction to the difficult first half of the year to be able to perform as they did later on.

"The first motivation for the team is you need to get results because the Monday morning is always easier when the Sunday went well," he explained.

"With the very tough start to the season we had, I am quite proud of the reaction of the team.

The first four or five events were very difficult for us but the reaction was okay and now we have to be focused on the future."