The announcement was expected and it arrived this week: Guanyu Zhou will continue the adventure with Alfa Romeo F1 in 2023 after a convincing first season in Formula 1.
The Chinese driver has not only progressed on the track but also off it, which his manager, Frédéric Vasseur, is grateful for, confident of having made the right choice for the future of his team by extending it.
« He’s had a very good season from the start. In terms of pure performance, the target was for him to reach Q2 a few times and he achieved that from the first race, in which he also marked his first point. »
« And in addition to the performance, I would say that the human aspect was crucial because he did a very good job with us. He is a good team player and he is an important element for us. I think that he is the right choice for the future. »
The French leader also discusses the areas in which Zhou still needs to improve.
« When you come from F2 there are new circuits to discover at the start of the season and it’s always difficult, but I think he has quickly raised his level of play in terms of pace. Now it’s more about the technical aspect, his approach to the weekend. »
« He’s sometimes a bit cautious in the early laps, but now that we know him well, we know he’s about to take a step and I’m confident for next year. »
If Zhou therefore still has room for improvement in certain areas for 2023, Vasseur recalls that this is also the case for Alfa Romeo F1 as a whole.
« For sure we have to take a step forward, we have to improve in every session in this business and it’s not just about Zhou or Valtteri (Bottas). We also have to do better on our side. »
« The most important thing is that the morale of the team is good and that Zhou contributes to it, and the combination he forms with Valtteri is perfect. We have to improve our performance as everyone does, and I think my counterparts would tell you the same thing. »
