Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou plans to make his Formula 1 debut in 2022. The F2 World Championship leader is part of the Alpine Driver Academy and even replaced Fernando Alonso in FP1 at the Austrian Grand Prix. Unfortunately, it looks like he’s not going to get into the sport with the French outfit on.
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Alpine is likely to keep its current driver line-up of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso. The decision would mean that academy drivers like Zhou could try to get into F1 with different teams in the paddock.
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What options are there for the Alpenakademie driver 2022?
With F1 introducing new rules in the 2022 season, most teams will keep their current lineups. The 2022 season is a big unknown for the teams, so they want experienced drivers who improve their chances.
Formula 1 F1 – Styria Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Styria, Austria – June 25, 2021, Alpine Fernando Alonso in action during training REUTERS / Leonhard Foeger
The only possible options for the Chinese driver are Alfa Romeo and Williams. These are the only teams that could have a seat for the next season. It is very likely that George Russell Williams could leave for Mercedes, which would mean a vacant seat on the British team.
But a more plausible option for Zhou is Alfa Romeo. The Swiss team could have two vacancies at the end of the season, as the two current driver contracts expire in 2021. There are no signs or reports to suggest that Alfa Romeo would like to move on with Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.
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DIVE DEEPER
Guanyu Zhou benefits massively from Formula 1
As reported by Motorsport, Liberty Media have been trying to globalize the sport even more since purchasing the F1 in 217. The owners have targeted markets like the US and the Middle East. If Zhou got into the sport, Formula 1 would have an even stronger base in the Chinese market.
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Formula 1 already hosts the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai every season and Zhou’s debut would get more attention from the country; A Chinese driver on the grid could open up the possibility of another race in the country and boost ticket sales for the existing GP. Liberty Media will be closely following the Zhou negotiations.
The post REPORTS: Alpine F1 Junior Aims for 2022 Seats at Williams & Alfa Romeo first appeared on monter-une-startup.
