The ‘Dragon’ Zhou will be the first Chinese in the history of Formula 1
BARCELONA, 16 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Alfa Romeo Racing has confirmed this Tuesday the signing of the driver Guanyu Zhou to accompany Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes’ sign – in the line-up for the 2022 World Championship, making him the first Chinese driver in the history of Formula 1.
“Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN will have a boost of talent and enthusiasm when Guanyu Zhou joins the team as a driver for the 2022 season. The young Chinese, a multiple-race winner in the FIA F2 Championship, will make his F1 debut,” announced the team.
Zhou will be the first Chinese-born Formula One driver and a pioneer in the Asian giant’s motor world. Alfa Romeo highlights that on its way to F1 it has had “dedication and commitment” as well as a “firm confidence” in its driving.
At 22, Guanyu Zhou finished second in Italian F4 in 2015, before racking up victories in Euro F3 and F2. This 2021, in the second category of motorsport, he is second in the World Cup and will fight for the title of F1 champion in the last rounds in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
“Zhou will join a team with heritage and tradition, completing a highly competitive lineup alongside Valtteri Bottas: this combination of youth and experience will be ready to propel Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN forward,” argued Alfa Romeo.
Guanyu Zhou assured that his arrival in F1 at the hands of Alfa Romeo allows him to complete his childhood dream. “It is a privilege for me to start my F1 career with an iconic team, a team that has brought in so many young talents in the past. Now the dream is a reality,” he said.
“I feel well prepared for the immense challenge, alongside proven world-class talent like Valtteri Bottas. I want to thank the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN team for this opportunity. The goal will be to learn as much as possible and be as fast as possible. To be the first Chinese driver in Formula 1 is a breakthrough in the history of Chinese motorsports. I know there will be high hopes for me and as always, I will take this as a motivation to be better and achieve more, “he appealed.
For his part, team principal Frédéric Vasseur welcomed Guanyu Zhou and described him as a “very talented” driver. “We are eager to help his talent flourish even more in F1. We are proud of our lineup for 2022 and are confident that Zhou will form a very successful partnership with Valtteri,” he said.