Bottas in the streets of Milan for the 112 years of Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN driver Valtteri Bottas brought the passion of Alfa Romeo to life on the immortal streets that gave birth to the brand by driving his F1 through downtown Milan.
The Finnish driver who signed a multi-year contract with Alfa Romeo took the wheel of an F1 through the streets of downtown Milan, waking up citizens with the sound of his engine and the screeching of tires.
In a short video posted by Bottas on his Instagram account, F1 can be seen doing donuts on a closed section of a public road. The journey started in Piazza Duomo, and passed through Piazza San Babila, Porta Nuova, Central Station and the City Life district before arriving in Gattamelata.
Bottas in F1 on the streets of Milan
The final destination – Gattamelata – is where Alfa Romeo had its first production site called Portello. Currently it is home to Alfa Romeo’s new flagship store, and what better way to publicize it than by parking an F1 car outside its doors. The single-seater was not the Alfa Romeo Sauber C42 competing in the 2022 F1 season, but a much older Sauber C32 from 2013, refitted with the current livery for the occasion.
The Italian brand was founded in Milan on June 24, 1910, as Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (Alfa). The first car produced by the company was the 1910 Alfa 24 HP, with the full Alfa Romeo name not appearing until 1919.
Has a birthday wish ever come true? Ours has it right! For our 112th anniversary, @ValtteriBottas drives his F1 single-seater in the metropolis of the future: Milan. What a surprise for the city that saw the birth #Alfa Romeo! #JoinTheTribe @alfaromeoorlen pic.twitter.com/97gvYfatzE
— Alfa Romeo (@alfa_romeo) June 24, 2022
As well as running F1 in Milan, Alfa Romeo also held a gathering of owners and fans outside the Arese Museum in Italy, with a special exhibition paying tribute to its clubs from around the world. The event will run from Friday June 24 to Sunday June 26, when Alfa Romeo will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Giulia.