Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur insists Guanyu Zhou’s relative lack of experience will not affect the team’s performance.
Zhou’s move to Alfa Romeo was made official last November when it was announced he would replace Antonio Giovinazzi on the team. He will partner with former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas in 2022.
The Chinese driver competed in the Formula 2 Championship from 2019 to 2021. He never won the championship in his F2 stint but managed a 3rd place finish in 2021.
BREAKING: Guanyu Zhou will drive for Alfa Romeo in 2022 and become China’s first full-time #F1 driver pic.twitter.com/Fd3Zkwth6D
– Formula 1 (@F1) November 16, 2021
Alfa Romeo is starting the new season with a completely new driver line-up of Bottas and Zhou. On the one hand, Bottas is one of the most experienced drivers on the track, having won ten races in his five years at Mercedes. On the other hand, Zhou is new to the world of Formula 1 and has little time to adjust before the start of the season.
However, team boss Frederic Vasseur is not worried about the 22-year-old’s lack of experience.
“We all know that Formula 1 is a huge challenge. We also have a new car and only three days of testing per driver, but he’s a smart driver,” he said.
Also read: Alfa Romeo boss expects Valtteri Bottas to reach new heights with the Swiss team
Zhou enters F1 with little experience, just like Max Verstappen, Alfa Romeo boss says
Verstappen made his F1 debut for Toro Rosso in 2015. His entry into the sport was very quick, having only made his single-seater racing debut three years earlier. Since then, the Red Bull driver has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top, winning the 2021 F1 World Championship.
“We believe we can develop a young rider’s skills and get the best out of Zhou,” continued Vasseur.
Second and final day of testing completed! Well done guys, now for a well deserved break! 
pic.twitter.com/jekC6mlpBs
— Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN (@alfaromeoorlen) December 15, 2021
“Max came into F1 without much experience. Also Charles (Leclerc) did well in his first season, (George) Russell and (Lando) Norris did well in his first season. That means it is possible.”
“Of course we have different tools than before, such as the simulator. However, I also think that young children are much more mature today than they were 20 years ago. They’re done faster today,” he concluded.
Also read: Red Bull boss dismisses rumors of Cyril Abiteboul joining
