Valtteri Bottas says he and Alfa Romeo can be encouraged by its display in Canada as he returned to the points for the first time since Bahrain’s season-opener.
Bottas was involved in the multi-car battle for the lower points positions and narrowly lost out to Lance Stroll across the line, but moved back into the top 10 courtesy of Lando Norris’ time penalty.
The result ended Bottas’ lengthy drought and also moved Alfa Romeo ahead of Haas and into seventh in the championship.
“I think it’s important for myself and the whole team because we can see again the progress we’ve made,” said Bottas.
“I think, again, this weekend in every session the car has been capable of a top 10, and it was the same [in the race], so it’s good to see.
“It just gives us a bit of hope and a kind of feeling that there’s a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”
Team chief Alessandro Alunni Bravi believes Alfa Romeo has to extract more single-lap pace from its C43 to improve its prospects going forward.
“We must be happy with the one point we scored with Valtteri, even though it’s always a bit bitter to lose one position with just metres to go,” he said.
“Still, one point can make a fundamental difference at the end of the season, and we have now scored in two races in a row.
“We know Saturdays are where we need to focus our attention: a better qualifying position can allow us to a fight for higher places and, ultimately, more points.
“In terms of race pace, our cars seem to be better, so we know the C43 as an overall package can be competitive.”
