Alfa Romeo has just announced the date for the unveiling of their challenger for the 2022 season, which will be known as the C42. The new livery will debut on the 27 of February.

The event is set for the latest date announced so far, as it will take place even after the first Barcelona testings planned for the 23-25. During the "shakedown", which won't be broadcasted,  the Italian-Swiss F1 team will run a special livery.

The date you’ve been waiting for 📅 pic.twitter.com/PIjqLMUXhL

— Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN (@alfaromeoorlen) February 2, 2022

Alfa Romeo approaches the first season under the new regulations with a completely new lineup for the first time in three years, after Kimi Raikkonen's retirement and Antonio Giovinazzi joining FE with Dragon Penske.

First announced was Valtteri Bottas, who has signed a multi-year deal. The former Williams and Mercedes driver will bring the experience coming from having won five consecutive constructors'championship titles with the German outlet, and had his first experience with the new team during the Abu Dhabi tests in December.

Save the date 👀 https://t.co/Qz5PDKBfUJ

— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) February 2, 2022

He will be partnered by the only rookie on the grid in 2022, first ever Chinese F1 driver Guanyu Zhou. Former reserve driver for Alpine and part of their Academy, he ended his third season in Formula 2 with a third place in the drivers' standings after being involved in the title fight for the whole season.

The team has also undergone through a brand restyling, changing their official name to Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN, dropping the more generic "Racing" to underline their focus on the top class, and using only Alfa Romeo for the chassis name officially submitted to the FIA.

The novelty has been introduced by Alfa Romeo's CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, who stated that the choice was made to highlight the importance given to their presence in the "most exclusive" racing championship in the world:

"For us, adding the wording ‘F1 Team’ to our team’s name is highly significant and makes us proud: it epitomises Alfa Romeo’s commitment to the most exclusive motorsport competition there is, where this brand has written indelible pages in its history."

"On the other hand, it represents the team spirit of cohesion, in which Alfa Romeo intends to play a leading role. With this new team and logo, a new, exciting line-up and a new car ready to be unveiled, we are ready for an exciting new season," he summed up.