Official: Alfa Romeo signs Guanyu Zhou

Expected for several weeks to be Valtteri Bottas' teammate in 2022, Guanyu Zhou was made official by Alfa Romeo this Tuesday.

Published on 16/11/2021 à 10:15

Jeremy Satis

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Official: Alfa Romeo signs Guanyu Zhou

All that remained was to know the identity of the pilot who would accompany Valtteri Bottas in Alfa Romeo Racing for the 2022 grid Formula 1 is finally complete. It is now done. This Tuesday morning, after announcing the end of their collaboration with Antonio Giovinazzi, the team based in Hinwil (Switzerland) announced the signing of Guanyu-Zhou for next season, without however specifying the duration of the contract. Zhou will be the only new driver on the grid next year, as Alexander albon, back at Williams after a season in DTM, already has two years of F1. 

This day is historic since the one who was until then a member of theAlpine Academy will become the first Chinese driver in the history of Formula 1. Currently second in Formula 2 for his third year in the category, the UNI-Virtuosi driver is still in the fight for the title since he is 36 points behind the leader Oscar piastri. He will therefore make his big debut as a starter in 2022, after having notably driven in Free Practice 1 in Austria with Alpine last July.

End of suspense for Theo Pourchaire

A member of the Sauber academy for two years, Frenchman Théo Pourchaire was also in contention for the seat. The 18-year-old Habs even took his first laps aboard the 138 Alfa Romeo C2019 last summer. On the Alfa Romeo side, we prefer to gradually prepare the Frenchman for the main discipline by putting together a big test program for him. The Frenchman should therefore complete a second year in Formula 2, where he will try to win the title. 

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Jeremy Satis

Great F1 reporter & passionate about promotional formulas

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