Alfa Romeo F1 Passes Crash Test With Revamped ‘Extreme’ Nose After Initially Failing It

Last month, the Alfa Romeo F1 team suffered a setback in their 2020 season preparations. As it turned out, their car failed a crash test and they had to go back to the drawing board and try again.

This time, there is good news as the new version reportedly sports an extreme nose. However it took a few interventions to comply with the regulatory security constraints. So, the Swiss-Italian team homologated the C39 chassis and repeated the failed frontal crash test.

Initially, the early design of the extreme nose solution did not pass the dynamic crash. Howeber, after reworking the concept, the technical staff revamped the solution.

What solutions did Alfa Romeo have?

It was also noteworthy that the C39’s predecessor adopted the “Manta cloak” under the nose. In fact, they implemented it before the Maranello team did at the 2019 Singapore GP.

This led to a very narrow nose profile with the front extractor evolving with a series of interesting steps in search of aerodynamic downforce on the front.

For the 2020 season, Alfa Romeo F1 chose to retain their current two drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi. The primary aim of the duo will be to bring the Alfa brand higher in the Constructors’ championship.

Last year, they finished ninth, only ahead of the misfiring Williams F1 team. At the moment the teams that are already in order with the homologation of the chassis are: Racing Point, Ferrari, Williams, Haas and Toro Rosso. Soon, that list will include Alfa Romeo, as progress continues on their car.

As per Motorsport Italy, Mercedes has to complete a rear test, while ​​Red Bull, Renault and McLaren have yet to get the green light from the FIA.

Off those teams, only McLaren, Mercedes and Renault have announced a launch date. So it will be a race against time to get their car approved before their respective launch dates.