Joe Portlock – Formula 1Getty Images
- Guanyu Zhou joins Alfa Romeo and becomes the first Chinese racing driver in the 72-year history of Formula 1.
- Zhou is replacing Antonio Giovinazzi, who will switch to Formula E with Dragon / Penske Autosport.
- Zhou, 22, finished second in the Formula 2 classification in 2021.
The silly Formula 1 season is over after the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team announced today that it has signed Formula 2 driver Guanyu Zhou to team up with current Mercedes racing driver Valtteri Bottas in 2022.
It will mark an entirely new line-up for Alfa Romeo as Zhou becomes the first Chinese racing driver in Formula 1’s 72-year history.
Zhou’s promotion had been expected for several months but was put on hold in discussions between the owners of the Formula 1 team – led by billionaire Finn Rausling – and Michael Andretti’s Andretti Autosports team. There was an obvious potential impact on the driver market if the Andretti deal came to fruition as Andretti was interested in getting Colton Herta into Formula 1, but those discussions broke down over control issues.
Zhou is replacing Antonio Giovinazzi, who will switch to Formula E with Dragon / Penske Autosport.
“It is a privilege for me to start my Formula 1 racing career with a legendary team,” said Zhou. “I feel well prepared for the immense challenge of Formula 1, the premier class of my sport, together with a proven world-class talent in Valtteri. For the next year the goal will be to learn as much as possible and as quickly as possible.
“To be the first Chinese driver in Formula 1 is a breakthrough in Chinese motorsport history. I know that I have a lot of hopes and, as always, I will use this as a motivation to get better and achieve more. “
Zhou’s rise to Formula 1 was more gradual than spectacular. He moved from his native Shanghai to the UK in the early 2010s while still karting and advanced through the Europe-based single-seater championships. This year he took second place in the Formula 2 championship.
Formula 1 has viewed China as a potentially lucrative market, but its success so far has been limited. China entered the Formula 1 calendar in 2004, but Zhou is the first to make the starting grid. Unfortunately, he won’t have a home Grand Prix for Zhou in 2022 because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, Alfa Romeo will try to enter this market.
In the long term, Alfa Romeo already has its current junior, 18-year-old Theo Pourchaire, in view. The youngster, currently fifth in his rookie Formula 2 season, has already had a private Formula 1 outing at Alfa Romeo. The Formula 1 team has been supporting his career since 2019.
Zhou’s Formula 1 graduation for 2022 means the end of Antonio Giovinazzi’s Formula 1 career. Giovinazzi has spent three years competing successfully for Alfa Romeo after rising from a humble background, but his time is up. He’s been Ferrari’s reserve driver since 2017 and will likely remain part of the Ferrari team in some ways, possibly in sports cars.
“F1 is emotion, talent, cars, risk, speed,” said Giovinazzi in a statement. “But when money rules, it can be inconsiderate.”
The departure of Giovinazzi and the imminent resignation of Kimi Raikkonen mean that Alfa Romeo will be the only team with a completely redesigned line-up. The squad ranks ninth in this year’s overall standings after failing to develop their 2021 car to focus on 2022. It was last higher than eighth in the championship in 2013.
On Tuesday it was also confirmed that Formula 2 leader Oscar Piastri will stay with Alpine as a reserve driver. It will have an extensive testing program as it targets a racing opportunity in 2023. Piastri’s résumé warrants a race drive, but the cards didn’t turn out in his favor.
“It’s the next step towards my goal for a racing seat in 2023, which is very exciting,” said Piastri. “I’ve proven myself in the junior formulas over the past few years and now I feel ready for Formula 1.”
Zhou to Alfa Romeo also wraps up a relatively static goofy season in which the most high-profile development was Mercedes, recruiting George Russell. That prompted Bottas to switch to Alfa Romeo in place of the resigned Raikkonen, with Alexander Albon returning from the cold to replace Russell at Williams. Of the 20 drivers on this year’s grid, 16 stayed on their current journey for 2022. Zhou will be the only new addition.
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