- Zhou, 22, signs for 2022 alongside Valterri Bottas at Alfa Romeo
- ‘The dream has come true,’ says current F2 driver
Guanyu Zhou will become Formula One’s first Chinese driver after he was signed by Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season. The 22-year old will replace Italian Antonio Giovinazzi at the team and will partner Valtteri Bottas, who is to leave Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at the end of this season. Zhou is the final driver to be confirmed for next season, completing the 2022 grid.
A statement from Alfa Romeo described Zhou as “a trailblazer who will write a pivotal page of his country’s motorsport history”. He will be the first Chinese driver to compete in F1, following on from his compatriot Ma Quinghua, the only Chinese man to have driven an F1 car before when he took part in five practice sessions in 2012 and 2013 for HRT and Caterham.