GALLERY: Fresh look for Alfa Romeo as they launch C41 challenger for 2021

Alfa Romeo’s 2021 challenger, the C41, has broken cover, with the team launching the car at a ceremony in Warsaw, Poland.

Alfa Romeo are one of just three teams who have stuck with their 2020 line-up for this season, with the C41 set to be piloted by the pairing of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi – beginning their third season as team mates – while former F1 winner Robert Kubica will also be part of the squad as test and reserve driver.

RAPID REACTION: Our first tech take on Alfa Romeo’s 2021 C41

In terms of the car itself, Alfa Romeo have opted for a boldly revised version of their 2020 C39 machine’s livery – while the C41 also appeared to feature a revised front end, with a slimmer nose than was seen on the C39, in conjunction with the changes to the floor and diffuser areas as prescribed by the 2021 regulations.

Alfa Romeo will be hoping that the arrival of the C41 marks an upturn in the team’s fortunes, after a difficult 2020 that saw Raikkonen and Giovinazzi score just eight points between them, as the team limped to eighth in the constructors’ standings.

A key part of that equation, however, will be the performance of Ferrari’s new 066 power unit for 2021, also set to be run by Haas, as well as Ferrari themselves.

ANALYSIS: Why Alfa Romeo kept Raikkonen and Giovinazzi for 2021

Speaking of the team’s targets for 2021, Alfa Romeo Team Principal Fred Vasseur said that the goal was for the squad to climb to the top of the midfield pecking order – but admitted that it would be “a long path” to realise that goal.

“I think the most important thing for a racing team is to try to always improve,” said Vasseur. “Honestly, we want to improve, all the team is motivated by the same target and we have to, step by step, come back to the top of the midfield. We know that it's a long path but we are working on it and we are improving step by step.”

We’ll get a chance to see if they have improved when the Alfa Romeo C41 is driven in anger for the first time at pre-season testing, set to be held at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 12-14 – ahead of the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28.