The F1 rookie Zhou Guanyu will start his Imola race from the pit lane instead of the starting grid besides other drivers. So, the F1 fans are wondering why the Alfa Romeo driver would have a different start from others.
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During the Imola sprint race, Zhou and AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly made contact. The French driver just had his front right tire punctured. So, he joined the race again with a pit stop. Meanwhile, the Alfa Romeo driver went straight into the wall and brought out the Safety Car for the following lap.
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Zhou’s car took serious damage from that crash and requires some major fixes. Also, the Chinese driver has to start the Sunday race from the back because of retiring from the race. But the damaged car forced the driver even further. Any major repairs after a qualifying event can penalize the drivers.
And in this case, Guanyu will start the race from the pitlane instead of the grid. Or as F1 puts it, “Zhou required to start from the pit lane after car was modified whilst under Parc Ferme conditions”
Zhou Guanyu on his start from pit lane
The result of the Imola sprint race was disappointing for the Chinese driver. It would be hard for Guanyu to climb up in the position during the race after starting from the pit lane. However, the 22-year-old still hopes that he can make a comeback because of the weather, as there are chances it might rain during the race. So, Zhou is still looking forward to the Sunday race.
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 22, 2022 Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou in action during qualifying REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
Zhou Guanyu reported, “The rear of the car is fully destroyed. It will be less opportunities [in the race] but I think, looking at the weather forecast, everything could still happen. There’s more to play for, it’s too early to give up yet, but let’s get the car fixed first and then we’ll have a look.”
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The F1 rookie showcases his phenomenal driving prowess in the last three races. Zhou finished in the top 10 in the first race in Bahrain. He could have bagged two more top 10 finishes in the last two races but fell short of just one position, finishing P11 in Jeddah and Melbourne.
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While Zhou will start the Imola GP from the pit lane, his teammate Valtteri Bottas would start the race from P7. It would be fascinating to see if Zhou could pull off an incredible drive and make it in the top 10 alongside Bottas.
