The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale goes into the hands of Valtteri Bottas

It carried out the final tests at Balocco with Valtteri Bottas at the wheel.

Photo by: Alfa Romeo

By: Gianmarco Gori

Dec 7, 2024 at 7:48am ET

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The final version of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is almost ready. The latest prototypes are undergoing fine-tuning tests, first at the Nardò circuit and now at Balocco.

And it was at the Experimental Centre Stellantis that Valtteri Bottas, Formula 1 driver for the Alfa Romeo team and future owner of the car, put the new supercar through its paces to perfect the settings, steering and brakes.

Bottas' keen eye

During the tests at Balocco, Bottas worked closely with the Biscione technical team, analysing fundamental parameters such as the response of the steering, the behaviour of the chassis and the reactions of the suspension.

According to the manufacturer, the aim was to optimise handling, so that the final 33 Stradale would be able to offer a gratifying experience both on the track and on the road. At the end of the test, the driver described the sports car as "intuitive and satisfying", underlining the comfort even at high speed and the inimitable sound of the V6.

But that's not all. The F1 single-seater expert also appreciated the brakes - produced by Brembo for Alfa Romeo with carbon-ceramic discs - in particular their ability to adapt to different driving modes, guaranteeing excellent control at all times, even when going from 62 mph to 0 in less than 33 metres.

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At the end of the test, the driver and future owner of the 33 Stradale commented:

"Being able to test drive the 33 Stradale was a very special opportunity. I hope that my feedback will be useful to Alfa Romeo's experienced development team as they make their final adjustments. Configuring my personal car with the 'Alfa Romeo workshop' was interesting and exciting, testing it today was really thrilling. Now I just have to wait for my 33 Stradale to be ready!"

Test drive of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale with Valtteri Bottas at Balocco

Extraordinary performance: 207 mph at Nardò

Prior to the Balocco test, the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale had already demonstrated its potential in recent weeks by reaching a top speed of 207 mph on the Nardò high-speed circuit in Puglia.

On the same day, the company's test drivers also checked and validated the most important dynamic parameters, such as aerodynamics, maximum engine operating temperatures, cooling system efficiency and cabin soundproofing.