Why new F1 rules require a "complete change of mentality"

Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur has described the upcoming season as a "complete change of mentality" for the team as it aims to climb the order from its second-last placing in 2021.

Alfa Romeo finished ahead of only scoreless Haas last year with 13 points from 22 races.

The team will run an all-new driver line-up of Valtteri Bottas and rookie Guanyu Zhou for the upcoming season in place of Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Raikkonen, who retired from competing.

Speaking to GPFans in an end of season interview, Vasseur explained how the new era of regulations when combined with the cost cap has resulted in a major shift for teams.

"I think it's a nice project to start from scratch with the cost cap," said Vasseur.

"It's even a bit more than just a change of chassis and the fact that you have to develop the car on the other cost cap, it's a complete change of mentality and approach."

Reflecting that Alfa Romeo already worked "below the cost cap", Vasseur reflected the challenge would likely be far greater for those with higher operating budgets.

"For the big teams, I think it's an extra challenge," he added.

"For us, we have also to anticipate the fact that if we keep this path, in two or three years we will be at the cost cap.

"It means that you have to anticipate the change of mentality and it was not at all the mindset of F1. So far, the mindset of F1 was to find the maximum budget to spend the maximum, just focusing on performance.

"Now you have to be focused on efficiency. It's a big change of mindset for a company, but it's a good challenge, a nice one."

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