Why Alfa Romeo chose Zhou for its F1 team

This makes the 22-year-old China’s first driver at the highest level of motorsport and gives the championship a boost, the extent of which we can only guess at.

It is no coincidence that the announcement came a few weeks after Formula 1 confirmed that the Chinese GP will return after a three-year pandemic hiatus in 2023, with a contract that now runs until 2025.

Former Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey and his successor Stefano Domenicali have often mentioned China in the same breath as the US when it comes to the markets they want to conquer, and Formula 1 now has the chance with Zhou.

The hope in the paddock is that he will have the influence that Max Verstappen had in the Netherlands or Sergio Perez in Mexico.

“I think it’s a huge opportunity for the company, for the current sponsorship work, for the nine other teams, for F1 in general,” said team principal Fred Vasseur to Autosport.

“Huge. I think it’s really important that if you want to develop the team, but also in Formula 1, the approach is the same. It makes sense to open up a new market like China.

“And I think Zhou will be the perfect ambassador for that because he did very well in the junior series, much better than any Chinese driver before. However, I know very well that it will be a challenge because it is always a challenge when you get into Formula 1. “

Zhou is clearly coming with his own sponsorship package, but his arrival is also a boost for the team’s other existing supporters. Alfa Romeo sells cars in China, and title sponsor Orlen is also well represented.

“Everyone is excited,” says Vasseur. “It’s not just about Alfa Romeo or Orlen or anyone else, you know everyone is trying to build commercial ties with China and this is the best way to do it.”

And the hope is that more Chinese companies will come on board in the coming seasons: “It’s much more about potential. It could be a lot faster than ’23 / ’24. It’s a huge opportunity for us and our sales team, and we have to work on it. “

Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing C41

Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

The commercial side is key to his business, but it would be wrong to dismiss Zhou as a wage driver – after all, there are many others in the current grid tied to commercial packages.

He is also a very promising talent who has made steady progress throughout his career. He’s currently in second place in the FIA ​​F2 Championship, admittedly in his third year in the category, but that makes him more than qualified to make the promotion.

“It was an important decision for the company, for the future of the company,” says Vasseur.

“We have a big change in terms of the 2022 regulations. We evaluated all of the options that we had on the table. Valtteri was pretty obvious to me. And besides Valtteri, we’ve had different options, and for many different reasons, Zhou is the first choice.

“It’s never a thing. Performance is not based on a single pillar, it is always a combination of speed, collaboration with the team, collaboration with teammates, the financial side. And I think it’s a good step forward for the development of the company. “

One fascinating aspect of Zhou’s career is that his family made an early commitment to bringing him to Europe as a teenager. It was a big step that paid off.

“Aside from the fact that he is Chinese, it is impressive to make this kind of move at 13 because I think he was 13 when he came to Italy,” said Vasseur.

“I remember vividly when people like Stoffel Vandoorne went to Japan, they were a lot older, but it was huge for them. In the beginning, Stoffel struggled to come out on top in Japan.

“We shouldn’t underestimate that. Even if you are able to handle this aspect of the situation, you are taking a good step forward because it is a real challenge. “

Progress has been a hallmark of Zhou’s career, driven by a management team that includes former Manor / Marussia F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon.

Second in the 2015 Italian F4 Championship – in a field where Lando Norris occasionally appeared – Zhou then spent three seasons in the F3 with Motopark and most recently Prema and won a few races in his senior year.

Guanyu Zhou, Uni-Virtuosi Racing

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

With UNI-Virtuosi he rose to the F2 and achieved several podium places in 2019 and took his first sprint win in 2020 when he finished sixth in the championship. This year there was a further step with feature wins in Bahrain and Silverstone.

“You know I pay a lot of attention to the junior series,” says Vasseur. “He did well in Formula 2 last year and he’s doing very well this season. He took two or three pole positions. I think if you can win at Silverstone, that’s a good signal.

“He’s a front runner and can still win the championship in the end, but it’s very close. He’s doing a very solid job. I think it’s a good reason for us to keep going with him.

“We didn’t work together on the junior series and I don’t know him very well. But when you look at it, he seemed to be improving, and that means he’s smart and doing his job step by step. Who knows if he’ll end up being a champion or not? It’s a little early.

“But he drove very strong events in Formula 2 this season, strong qualifications, strong races. In some cases it just flew. I think he’s a good combination of everything. And I also like his approach, a good relationship with the team leader, and that’s important. “

Progress is the key: “We have to keep the momentum going. If he can improve and progress over the years, it definitely shows that he has the right approach.

“I think his management is very experienced, they can help him a lot and we’ve known each other for ages. And it’s good to have that kind of relationship with the drivers too. “

As a junior driver, Zhou worked calmly with Alpine, drove in the simulation and tested the team’s old Renault chassis and completed an FP1 session in Austria at the beginning of the year.

Mileage gave him a useful head start on his first Alfa run in Abu Dhabi next month.

“He had maybe 10 days of testing or something like that and done a lot of simulator sessions. It’s good workout, and it’s important because we know very well that the number of days of testing is going to be tricky next year.

“We have six days of testing on paper plus Abu Dhabi, then we know that we could have problems with the weather in Bahrain or Barcelona and that reliability is not guaranteed because it is a completely new car.”

One thing is clear: he is now an Alfa Romeo driver and is leaving Alpine behind.

“It is not managed by Alpine at all and is no longer under contract with Alpine,” says Vasseur. “That was important to me because I also have to be free and work for the future. I have a one-year project when I know that there is no possibility for ’23.

Guanyu Zhou, Alps A521

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“I have a good relationship with Alpine. And it is also important to me to be very open, to discuss the situation with them. In the end it is a good story for them too, they helped him get into F1 . “

Alfa is the only team to enter the new era of 2022 that has changed both drivers. It’s a fascinating combination, with Bottas finally emerging from the shadow of Lewis Hamilton as the clear team leader and Zhou, the rookie who has regained a foothold.

“Having this kind of line-up, with Valtteri taking pole positions and winning races, is a big boost for the company,” says Vasseur. “We also know that there will be enormous pressure on his shoulders next year.

“I like that feeling at the end of the day because we’re all working under pressure. And that’s the DNA of our business. And next year will be a big challenge for us, with Zhou, with Valtteri for various reasons and the new car. It’s an exciting challenge. “

What the team won’t have is continuity in the cockpit. With all the other changes, won’t the lack of a reference be a handicap?

“I don’t think so,” says Vasseur. “I know that Günther [Steiner] is convinced of it, but I do not think so. I think it’s important to have someone with experience. Because the team could be a little lost. But then to make a comparison with the car from the previous year makes no sense. “

It could be argued that a change in the rules is the ideal time to bring in a newbie, as this is a reorganization for everyone else as well.

“I don’t know if it’s a good time to do this. If you look at the regulations today, that’s a pretty big step. But on the other hand, F2 is also a good preparation, they are already driving the 18-inch tires with Pirelli. They drive the same routes. I think the timing is good for him. “

Zhou is also smart enough not to make waves and take everything he can from his new teammate.

“I hope we give him the opportunity to learn from Valtteri,” said Vasseur.

“And on top of that, I think Valtteri is a good professional, a good guy. He will be helpful to the team, he will be helpful to Zhou, and the cooperation will be good. “

Guanyu Zhou, UNI virtuoso

Photo by: Formula Motorsport Ltd