Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN team unveils its F1 car in Warsaw

We consider our involvement in Formula One as an investment that enhances our image and supports the ORLEN Group’s business. In 2020, we generated an over PLN 400m advertising value equivalent from TV broadcasts alone. This is three times the number recorded last season. The social media advertising value equivalent was in excess of PLN 30m. Our brand name was mentioned in 100,000 articles. These are record brand awareness results with great potential for the future – potential we want to develop. Therefore, thanks to PKN ORLEN, a global pre-season Formula One car launch has been held in the Polish capital for the first time in history - said Daniel Obajtek, President of the PKN ORLEN Management Board.

Its F1 involvement enables PKN ORLEN to reach billions of fans all over the world. F1 races are broadcast by 51 national television stations. The Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN sponsorship strengthens global brand awareness. The ORLEN Group’s products are marketed in more than 110 countries around the world, with around 60% of its turnover generated on international markets.

The official C41 launch was conducted in the spectacular setting of the Grand Theatre National Opera, featuring Chopin’s and Puccini’s music, unique technology, white and red colours of the piano and artists. The car, featuring a white and red livery and designed under the coordination of Technical Director Jan Monchaux, is an evolution of the previous C39. The car retains many elements of its predecessor due to regulatory restrictions. In addition to the new livery and front wing, the car hides a new Ferrari engine.

The launch of a new car is always an emotional moment, the culmination of months of effort from everyone back at the factory and the start of a new adventure. I think the philosophy upon which the team is based remains the same - we have to do a better job tomorrow than we are doing today. We finished last season in P8, so we have to target a better result in 2021. To do so, we have to keep improving in each department, trackside and back at HQ. Every team on the grid has very high expectations right now: all the teams expect to do a good job in the winter and to be in a good position for the first race, but soon it will be the time for everyone to show their cards – said Frédéric Vasseur, Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Team Principal.

We’re launching the car today, we’ll be testing in less than a month – the new season is really coming in quickly. We’ll just need to see how it goes: see how the car is when we get to try it and do the best we can in testing. Obviously, there have been some changes in the rules, even though the basic car is the same: the chassis is frozen but we have a new engine, some new elements, so we have to find out how the package works together and go from there - said Kimi Räikkönen.

I am really looking forward to the new season. This will be my third season with the team, I am very happy to continue our history together. Of course, we know it may once again be a tricky one, but I am confident the hard work we all did during the winter in the factory will pay off. On my side, I have trained very hard and I am just looking forward to be in the car for the first test and then finally for the first race – said Antonio Giovinazzi.

Since I became the first Polish Formula One driver, the sport has grown a lot there and this makes me proud. There has always been a lot of passion for motorsport in general in Poland, and of course PKN ORLEN is doing a great job to promote the sport. Having the first-ever team launch in the country is really special, I am sure it will be a great boost not only for the fans but for the country as a whole. I am proud of representing my country and to work with ORLEN to promote Poland in the world, and I am sure the launch will be a spectacular show - said Robert Kubica.

The Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN team has a decades-long presence in Formula One. PKN ORLEN has been the title sponsor of the team since the beginning of the 2020 season, with ORLEN Team member Robert Kubica as the test driver. The other team members are Antonio Giovinazzi of Italy and 2007 World Drivers’ Champion Kimi Räikkönen of Finland. The team under Frédéric Vasseur sat eighth in the constructors’ championship at the end of the season. ARRO is the third team – after McLaren and Alpha Tauri – to unveil its car for the upcoming season.

In the 2021 season, the PKN ORLEN logo will be displayed on the rear and front wings, halo, mirrors, and side sections of the car. It will also feature on the chest and back of the race suits, in three spots on the drivers’ helmets, and on the crew clothing, transporters, garage, and motorhome.