Alfa Romeo team boss Frédéric Vasseur believes the Swiss outfit has made the biggest step forward of all teams this season, and yet it still hasn't extracted the full potential of its 2021 car.
Alfa Romeo has little to show for its efforts so far this season as it sits eighth in the Constructors' standings with a tally of just two points.
But in terms of relative performance, Vasseur points to the data and to his team's significant improvement, with advancements extracted from every element of its C41 package.
"As a team, we have made a really big step forward from last season to this, perhaps the biggest among all teams on the grid," Vasseur said, quoted by RACER.
"The data speaks for itself – just looking at qualifying, the average gap we have from pole position went down by more or less a percentage point, while in the race we have made also significant progress, above half a percentage point.
"In such a close grid, that’s a big jump forward, and I think we’re not done yet delivering the full potential of our package.
"The whole entirety of the C41 is working better than its predecessor, and it would be unfair to point to a single element to give credit for the progression we have made.
"The power unit has made a big step forward, of course, but we have improved every aspect of our car, and the result is visible on track."
Vasseur says Alfa's meager track record so far this season is in large part due to unlucky circumstances although he also acknowledged his team's own shortfall in some instances.
"A lot of it is down to circumstances," said the Frenchman. "Our rivals have all had one or two ‘big scoring’ races, which we haven’t had yet – perhaps our luck will change soon.
"There have obviously also been some specific instances in which we could and should have done better – an issue with Antonio’s stop in Bahrain, when he was running in the points; Kimi’s crash in Portugal. But in many cases, it’s been something outside our control.
"Antonio’s race in Spain was ruined when the FIA Marshalling system mistakenly prevented him from catching up with the pack, or when we lost two points we had scored with Kimi in Imola due to a controversial penalty, in a race when Antonio’s race was also destroyed by a loose visor strip getting lodged in the brake ducts.
"Issues like these really put the pressure on delivering the perfect session every time, as there is no room for mistakes when the margins are so tight.
"We need to keep working to improve all that is under our control – and then what is down to luck will hopefully take care of itself."
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Formula 1 is gearing up for a new digital era in the United States –…
Carlos Sainz has lifted the lid on a private paddock conversation he enjoyed with Fernando…
Christian Horner has offered a revealing look back at his dramatic exit from Red Bull…
Alain Prost follows Niki Lauda by just two days on the February birthday calendar, the…
Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 comeback with Cadillac is already under the microscope – and he…
After pre-season testing in Bahrain gave F1’s drivers their first real taste of the sport’s…