How Zhou stole a point from Gasly during the Bahrain Grand Prix

En Formula 1, every detail counts, even the slightest point in the race which could have a significant impact on the world championship. In any case, that’s what Guanyu-Zhou et Alfa Romeo made us understand during the first of 23 Grands Prix of the 2023 season in Bahrain last Sunday.

Author of a nice comeback from the 20^e place, Pierre Gasly was in a good position to save the weekendAlpine after the ordeal ofEsteban Ocon and his penalties which led to his retirement. In addition to the 2 points of the 9^e position in which he was comfortably installed, the Norman was going to leave the Gulf with the fastest lap in the race. Pointing at the top of the said ranking with almost 8 tenths ahead of Lando Norris, the Tricolor seemed imperturbable but that was without counting on the mischief of Alfa Romeo.

Zhou plays Gasly

No doubt anticipating a struggle against Alpine Throughout the year, the Italian clan played a very bad trick on the Blues. Indeed, the Alfa Romeo wall asked Guanyu Zhou to stop at 54^e of the 57 laps of the race. The goal ? Take advantage of the low quantity of gasoline in the C43's tanks and fresher soft tires to set the best lap in the race.

A perfectly successful mission for the Chinese who stuck to Pierre Gasly by more than a second (1’33”996 against 1’35”068) and deprived the Norman and Alpine to leave with an extra point. Guanyu Zhou did not pocket the additional unit because he did not appear in the Top 10 (16^e at the finish) but allowed his team to win the first battle of a long war of 23 Grands Prix. In the ranking this gives Alfa Romeo 4, Alpine 2. So every point counts from the start.

ALSO READ > From last in points, Gasly makes up for it after failed qualifications