Executive Summary
- The F1 champion was behind the wheel of the 00 prototype Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale as it made its track debut at Balocco Proving Ground, giving key feedback for final tuning
- Bottas praised the car’s easy control, allowing drivers to fully enjoy its power and agility, along with the driver-focused design and distinctive sound, calling the experience near-perfect
- Already a Giulia GTAm owner, he is now also a member of the exclusive ‘Club 33’ with the 33 owners of the fuoriserie model, this session continued Valtteri Bottas’ collaboration with Alfa Romeo
- The Alfa Romeo engineering team set up the session to gather insights from Bottas, an expert and passionate owner of the custom-built car
- Bottas also tested the Junior 280 Veloce, the all-electric sports compact
Valtteri Bottas, Formula 1 driver and customer of the new Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, spent an intensive day with the Alfa Romeo engineering team at the Balocco Proving Ground, testing the ‘00 prototype’ of the custom-built car. His feedback on the car’s dynamics are crucial for final tuning.
Valtteri Bottas said: “Being the first to drive the 33 Stradale was a very special opportunity, and I’m sure my feedback will be taken on by the expert development team at Alfa Romeo for the final fine-tuning. Actually, while configuring my personal car with the ‘Bottega Alfa Romeo’ was engaging and exciting, and testing it today was really exciting, so now all I have to do is wait for my 33 Stradale to be ready! I am extremely satisfied with the testing. Today’s experience is close to perfection, which for me means total symbiosis with the car. The car immediately puts you at ease: extremely responsive, precise. The feeling with the car is immediate, extremely easy and fun to understand, and you certainly don’t need to be an F1 driver to experience it. In addition, its sound envelops the passenger compartment and is unmistakably Alfa Romeo.”
The testing took place at the Alfa Romeo Balocco Proving Ground, the iconic track that has hosted the development of racing icons since 1962. The Alfa Romeo engineers worked with Bottas to undertake medium and high-speed tests, focusing on balance, braking and handling, with the aim of delivering the best driving experience in the supercar category.
The session began with a reconnaissance lap in a Giulia GTAm to get familiar with the track. Last year, Bottas purchased one of the 500 Giulia GTAm models, a high-performance car with a 540 hp 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo engine and extensive use of lightweight materials. His membership of the Alfa Romeo ‘Tribe’ and his role in the ‘Club 33’ further cemented his strong connection to the brand’s sporty heritage.
The F1 champion then drove the 33 Stradale, describing it as intuitive and immediately understandable. The first test was at a moderate speed, where he assessed the steering precision, braking response and handling, aided by the car’s aluminium H-frame, carbon-fibre monocoque, and sophisticated suspension system. Bottas appreciated the minimalist interior design, which kept distractions to a minimum.
As the test progressed, Valtteri gradually increased the speed to test its behaviour in more extreme conditions. Powered by a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine generating over 620 hp, the 33 Stradale can reach a top speed of 333 km/h (207mph) and accelerate from zero to 62 mph in under three seconds. It has two driving modes – Strada (Road) and Pista (Track) – which can be activated through switches on the central tunnel. The former, engaged when the car is started, prioritises comfort and smooth power delivery, while Pista mode unlocks the car’s peak performance, offering stiffer suspension, rapid gear shifts and active exhaust.
In the final stage of the test, Valtteri tackled the Balocco track in Pista mode, allowing the 33 Stradale to showcase its full potential. One of the most exciting performance controls is the ‘Partenza Veloce’ (Quick Start), which optimises acceleration and minimises wheel slip. On some sections of the circuit, the F1 driver disengaged traction control, taking the car close to its top speed to confirm that the 33 Stradale manages to combine supercar performance with surprising ease of driving, even for non-professionals. The thrilling sound of the twin-turbo V6, which Bottas called a “mechanical symphony”, heightened the experience with each acceleration.
The active suspension system also played a key role, offering a perfect combination of comfort and performance. Specifically, the car adopts a 100% Alfa Romeo dual-arm suspension, featuring active shock absorbers and semi-virtual steering on both axles, ensuring excellent steering precision and lateral acceleration and providing exceptional handling across various driving conditions.
Bottas also praised the precision and capacity of the braking system, which adapts seamlessly to different driving modes. The car brakes from 62 mph to zero in under 33m, made possible by the Alfa Romeo Brake-By-Wire system, which controls braking pressure and ensures stability in the feeling of the pedal. Produced by Brembo for Alfa Romeo, carbon-ceramic brakes guarantee high performance and ensure reactive braking with a reduced fading effect at high temperatures. In the front and rear, the discs are ventilated and perforated with a six-piston monobloc caliper in the front and a four-piston system in the rear.
Once testing concluded, Alfa Romeo gave Bottas the chance to drive the new all-electric Junior 280 Veloce, a compact sports car. Though not as extreme as the 33 Stradale, it offered an exhilarating performance and showcased the excellent driving dynamics crafted by the Alfa Romeo development team.