Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN: passion that lies “beyond the visible”

Formula 1 is the finest expression of motor sports. With the most advanced technical performance and the slightest margins determining victory or defeat, the tiniest improvements each team makes are the result of the tireless work of research and development. The races include the passion and hard work of experts, mechanics, engineers, managers, and lastly, with their hands firmly gripped to the wheel and the pedal to the metal, the drivers.

However, only a tiny bit of this wild circus reaches the public eye. That’s why Alfa Romeo decided to go “beyond the visible” and showcase the lesser-known aspects of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN. In this way, the brand could give the public the opportunity to get to know and feel part of what really happens when the floodlights turn off and the tracks are not buzzing with drivers, colorful helmets, fireproof suits, and the deafening sound of the engines.

Thus, a new docuseries was born: “Beyond the Visible”, an entirely digital project which takes the public backstage and beyond at Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN. For the first time fans and novices from around the world will be able to go behind the scenes at race weekend and experience the daily lives of the drivers and experts. Furthermore, they will be able to witness the strategic decisions, the designing of the single-seater cars and engines, the complex logistics, the innovative technological solutions, and the endless resources invested into research and development.

Produced by the studio Lunartic Productions, the docuseries consists of five episodes which will be posted on Alfa Romeo’s social media pages throughout the 2022 racing season. The series was enthusiastically supported by the brand and features the drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu and all of the experts of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN. In fact, beyond what’s visible in the qualifications and races (in which 80 people participate), there is a team of more than 500 experts who work tirelessly at the team’s base in Hinwil with one goal in mind: to excel in the most famous motorsports competition in the world while ensuring fun, safety and the highest speeds.
The series begins by going behind-the-scenes with the drivers, showing what they eat, how they train, the strategies they study, and how they relax before a race. Then, the viewers will get to see the diets and the preparations of the mechanics. The docuseries will even highlight lesser-known fields which are critical to Formula 1 like logistics and planning. These sectors make the movements of people and equipment from one side of the world to another in record times possible. Plus, the series will cover the importance of jet lag, which might seem insignificant to most, but must be carefully managed in the F1 circus to optimize performance levels.

“Beyond the Visible” does not stop there. The obsessive work carried out on aerodynamics and race strategies are also hidden from view. These two aspects of a Formula 1 team’s operations are often purposefully kept secret but are fundamental to achieving a team’s goals. Being at the wheel of a single-seater, which provides exceptional performance in any atmospheric conditions and on completely different circuits, is the product of relentless and meticulous work. The public will be able to discover how a single-seater is designed and the links between F1 and Alfa Romeo’s “mechanical creations” of the present and future. Similarly, the series will show how F1 regulations are studied and the keys to defeating opponents. Additionally, cutting-edge technology plays an essential role in Formula 1, so much so that it is often associated with NASA; the docuseries will outline the similarities between these state-of-the-art “laboratories” of technological innovation. Finally, the Monza circuit, the famous “Temple of Speed” which is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year, will be highlighted in “Beyond the Visible”. The docuseries will go backstage and reveal the secrets of one of the most anticipated dates in the Formula 1 calendar.

Emotions and passions are sure to run high, and Alfa Romeo, which has made passion one of the foundational pillars of its sporty driving since 1910, has decided to share its passion with all of those who, whether they love motorsports or are simply curious, want to discover the true essence of a Formula 1 team—the finest expression of motorsports. Its first championship was won by Alfa Romeo in 1950 and an unbreakable bond remains between the two. The new docuseries “Beyond the Visible” further strengthens this bond and consolidates the values of excellence and sporty driving which are inherent to the legendary history of Alfa Romeo.

Cristiano Fiorio, Alfa Romeo F1 Manager

“Beyond the visible” is an ambitious project born out of a strong need to bring everything about a F1 team that is not visible into people’s homes. Behind the scenes of adrenaline-filled race weekends, passionate professionals work tirelessly with the sole goal of performing at the highest level. A constant challenge that we want to tell our entire Tribe about. From the development of the car to the athletic and mental preparation of our drivers, from the complex international logistics to the strategic choices behind the results on the track. Formula 1 is the highest expression of motor racing, a natural habitat for Alfa Romeo, an inclusive brand that has represented noble Italian sportsmanship since 1910.