Guanyu Zhou, get off to a good start in 2023

The first Chinese driver in the history of the premier category will begin his second season. Still driving a Alfa Romeo, although stripped of the white ORLEN replaced by a red and black dress. Despite the first points scored in the opening Grand Prix of the 2022 financial year, Guanyu-Zhou had to deal with a car lacking in reliability, a teammate with impressive experience and an extended season marked by a revolution in Formula 1. Result: 18th place in the championship, well behind Valtteri Bottas and his 49 points. And at the dawn of a second campaign, he has already identified areas for improvement. With, in sight, a better mastery of “ first hundred meters ": " At the start of the year, I was working on my one-lap pace to gain the confidence I needed to be at the limit, not make any mistakes in qualifying, and we were able to accomplish that during the season, he begins in an interview with F1. But on starts, we are the team that has been the least consistent. As a team we worked very hard over the winter. I hope we will progress, and that I will be more consistent. »

A consistency that the Chinese may have to acquire, with the experience accumulated in 2022 by having already ticked the boxes several first times: “ There were a lot of new tracks to learn during the 2022 season for me, says the one who was starting a season of 22 meetings. This year, I rode on the majority of circuits, so that will have to be taken into consideration. I feel like this year we can really take a step forward, but we are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the team. »

Zhou feels “more comfortable” for this new season

A few days before the C43's first steps on the track, it's time to look back. The opportunity to look back on his state of mind at the same period, a year earlier: “ This time last year I was very nervous and tense. Now I understand the team and the Formula 1 cars better. I think that, let's say from the shakedown in Barcelona and the winter tests in Bahrain, I will be more comfortable, more aware of what it is. is going to happen. »And in fact, Zhou was taking a real dive into the unknown at the start of his 2022 season. The one who, supported by Alpine was poached by Alfa Romeo, made his debut alongside the ex-right arm of Lewis Hamilton : " I didn't know Valtteri very well. So, I needed time to understand it, to understand the team and the engineers too, and I can say that I really enjoyed this first season togetherhe says. There was great mutual support on and off the track, from the team and my teammate »

A duo who will find themselves on board a new car from the Barcelona shakedown, before measuring itself against its competitors in pre-season testing (February 23-25). For this new campaign, the Chinese has already unveiled his helmet: shimmering purple decorated with the skyscrapers of Shanghai and a rabbit to celebrate the year of the animal... which also turns out to be the astrological sign of the 23-year-old pilot years. Hoping that it brings him luck from the first Grand Prix in Bahrain, on March 5.

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