Who Is Guanyu Zhou – The First Chinese Driver in Formula 1 & the Latest F1 Sensation?

After months of speculation, Alfa Romeo finally announced the signing of Guanyu Zhou for 2022. He has now become the first-ever Chinese driver to race full time in F1. He is replacing an outgoing Antonio Giovinazzi and will partner up with an incoming Valtteri Bottas on the grid.

The Chinese driver was only five when he attended the first Chinese GP in 2005, which his idol, Fernando Alonso, won.

He began go-karting at the age of seven. But after learning of the few opportunities for racing in China, Zhou moved to Europe at the age of 12. He swapped Shanghai for Sheffield and continued chasing his passion.

Zhou’s talent in karting caught Ferrari’s eye, who signed him into their Ferrari Driver Academy in 2013. From there on, he continued his rise.

He finished second in his first Italian F4 championship and raced in three seasons of Euro F3. Then, at age 19, Zhou joined Renault’s (now Alpine) Junior programme as an F1 Team development driver and, in the same year, made his way into F2.

Guanyu Zhou in F2

In his first season in F2, Zhou was awarded the Rookie of the Year award, courtesy of five podiums and a seventh-place finish in the championship. He won his first F2 race in Sochi in 2020 and became the first Chinese driver ever to win a race on an F1 weekend.

Throughout his F2 career, Zhou extensively tested old Formula One cars in Alpine’s strong testing programme, which finally came to fruition in 2021.

Zhou’s journey reached a full circle, from the age of five, witnessing his hero Fernando Alonso race in Shanghai to testing his Alpine at the age of 22. Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Zhou had his first taste of a Formula One car as he drove the Alpine in FP1.

Currently, Guanyu Zhou is competing against Oscar Piastri in F2 for the title. Although the Chinese driver is currently behind the recently announced reserve driver for Alpine, one wouldn’t rule him out of making a comeback.

In August 2021. Zhou spoke of his all-time goal.

“My all-time goal is to be a Formula 1 driver,” he said in an interview with Formula One.

As things stand currently, Zhou might need to find a new all-time goal, and winning his first Formula One race in 2022 might just be that.

Also Read: Alpine F1 Boss Hints at Bigger Things to Come for Their Junior Driver Oscar Piastri