The new tests will go along with proposed regulation modifications for 2023 that aim to lessen the phenomena of porpoising that many teams experienced after the introduction of ground effect cars for the 2022 season.
After a collision in Saturday’s sprint race, Zhou Guanyu will start Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from the pitlane after his Alfa Romeo crew completed repairs and adjustments to his car.
According to Alfa Romeo’s head of trackside engineering, the jackman lifted Guanyu Zhou’s car due to a “radio communication glitch,” resulting in the Alfa Romeo driver’s double penalty in Saudi Arabia.
Guanyu Zhou, China’s first ever Formula 1 driver, had a fairytale start to his career at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, where the Alfa Romeo rookie finished in the points for the first time.
Some speculated that Callum Ilott or Theo Pourchaire would be the candidates for the F1 seatSome speculated that Callum Ilott or Theo Pourchaire would be the candidates for the F1 seat but Alfa Romeo announced Guanyu Zhou.
Alfa Romeo Formula 1 rookie Guanyu Zhou credits a legend from a sport that he first became passionate about as a child for his choice of number 24.
After completing the 2021 Formula Season with Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas was back on the track with his new team Alfa Romeo. This comes after Alfa Romeo announced their all new 2022 driver line-up back in November. Partnering Bottas for the 18 inch Pirelli tyre Post Season Test was Guanyu Zhou who made a debut in Formula 1 after racing for Uni Virtuosi in Formula 2. Zhou was the runner up in Formula 2 Championship after Oscar Piastri claimed the F2 title. The two Alfa Romeo drivers set out to the track at Yas Marina with Bottas sporting 18 inch Pirelli tyres which are set for 2022. Zhou on the other hand, got to experience the Alfa Romeo 2021 car after getting acquainted with the Swiss team. However, Bottas was running on a mule car which Zhou will switch to on Wednesday for Pirelli tyre test.
Guanyu Zhou has selected the race number 24 to use when he makes his Formula 1 debut next year. The only rookie driver on the grid for the 2022 F1 season will drive for Alfa Romeo alongside Valtteri Bottas.Zhou is named as the driver of car number 24 in next year’s entry list issued by the FIA. He is the first driver to make that selection since permanent career numbers were introduced in 2014. The last driver to use the number was Timo Glock in 2012.
Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur admits the financial backing Guanyu Zhou will bring to the team was “a pillar” of his decision to give him a drive next year, but insists “not the only one”. Zhou has been recruited to run alongside Valtteri Bottas at Alfa next season and will bring a significant level of funding to the team – coupled with the potential marketing opportunities for the sport which will present themselves through having its first ever full-time Chinese driver. But despite those factors, the team principal insists Zhou’s driving was still a big factor in his appointment to the seat. “The first criteria is the performance of the team,” Vasseur told reporters in Qatar. “It means that to be performant you need to have good drivers, good technicians, good engineers, a good feeling from the drivers and a good budget. “It was a pillar of the decision, for sure. I was always clear like this because we want to get the cost cap. It’s the best way for us to be performant. “But it’s not the only one. I think Zhou is doing a very good job in F2 and I think everyone underestimates the level of performance and the job done by Zhou this season.” Vasseur also reiterated Zhou has been released by the Alpine junior ranks to be able to drive for Alfa, with having a “free hand” being a significant part of his decision to opt for Zhou over Oscar Piastri. The two drivers are locked in a battle at the top of the Formula 2 standings heading into their final rounds of the season and Vasseur feels Zhou’s drive and “determination” have proven he was “the right choice” to drive for the team next year. “The performance is speaking for itself,” he said. “He’s a front-runner, he won this season at Bahrain and Silverstone. In F2 they are probably the two most demanding tracks – Bahrain for tyre management and Silverstone [for] its high-speed corners. “But he did some pole positions, he’s always there, consistent and I’m sure he will do well next year. “And also I would say the determination, because he moved from China to Europe and we know perfectly that when you move from Europe even to Japan, it’s not an easy move for a driver and Zhou did the opposite. “When you are 13 and you move to Europe just because you want to become a racing driver, for me it’s a mega, huge commitment. “I’m convinced he will put all of his energy into the project and I’m convinced he will do well.”
Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur says he wasn’t pleased with Antonio Giovinazzi’s behaviour. This comes after Alfa Romeo made an announcement earlier this week to replace Giovinazzi with Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou for 2022. The Italian driver expressed his disappointment with the Swiss-based team for not retaining him for the 2022 season. Instead, they opted for Zhou, a driver who is reportedly getting a huge cash injection into the team. Antonio took to Twitter to reveal his emotions, and how brutal the world of Formula One can be. “F1 is emotion, talent, cars, risk, speed. But when money rules it can be ruthless. I believe in the surprise of an unexpected result, of big or small victories achieved thanks to one’s commitment. If this was my first picture on a F1, the last still has to be taken,” read his statement on Twitter. The statement and remarks about Guanyu Zhou’s recruitment didn’t go well with Frederic Vasseur. There was a lot of speculation about who will get the second seat at the Swiss-based team. Now it is confirmed that Zhou will be behind the wheel next year. While Antonio will part ways with the team. Additionally, the comments made by the Italian driver didn’t suit Vasseur and stated he was disappointed with Antonio’s behavior. “Well, honestly, I think it’s important for him to close the chapter, at least on this season, doing well on track,” said Vasseur in an interview with Will Buxton. “I saw the comments. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of this kind of attitude: also because the team gave him the chance to do three seasons in F1, and Alfa Romeo gave him the chance to do three seasons in F1. Tons of drivers would have dreamed to do it.” “Now he will have other challenges. He will have to do well in that other challenge, and perhaps he will come back in F1 in the future. But it’s a small world and we have to stay professional,” he concluded.
Guanyu Zhou will be the first Chinese driver to race in Formula 1 after signing with the Alfa Romeo Racing team to compete in 2022. The 22-year-old from Shanghai will replace Antonio Giovinazzi at the Sauber-run team and race alongside the experienced Valtteri Bottas, who will join from Mercedes-AMG. Zhou currently lies second in the standings in his third season of Formula 2 and, in a dual-campaign year, has won the Formula 3 Asia championship. He already has experience of Formula 1 from his time as a Renault and Alpine junior, and it’s rumoured that he brings a significant package of Chinese sponsorship. Alfa Romeo team principal Frédéric Vasseur said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Guanyu Zhou to Alfa Romeo Racing. He’s a very talented driver, as his results in F2 have shown, and we’re looking forward to helping his talent flourish even more in F1. “We’re also looking forward to welcoming all the new Chinese fans who will join the team: Alfa Romeo Racing is a historical brand and one that embodies the spirit of F1, and we will do our utmost to make the experience of our sport a great one in China.” This likely shows that Alfa Romeo is looking to grow its road car brand in China, which is the world’s largest market for new cars. Zhou said: “I dreamt from a young age of climbing as high as I can in a sport that I’m passionate about, and now the dream has come true. “It’s a privilege for me to start my F1 racing career with an iconic team, a team that has introduced so much young talent into F1 in the past. “To be the first ever Chinese driver in F1 is a breakthrough for Chinese motorsport history. I know a lot of hopes will be resting on me and, as ever, I will take this as motivation to become better and achieve more.” Giovinazzi will depart Alfa Romeo at the end of 2021 after 62 grands prix, leaving F1 without an Italian driver, despite the presence of Alfa Romeo, AlphaTauri and Ferrari. Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato said: “Alfa Romeo is extremely grateful to Antonio Giovinazzi for his strong contribution to the team over the years, not just from a sporting point of view. Antonio has embodied the Italian spirit of the brand, being an authentic ambassador every day.”
