Guanyu Zhou China's First F1 Driver
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Guanyu Zhou will become China's first F1 driver when he makes his debut with Alfa Romeo in 2022.
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Alfa Romeo described their new signing as "a trailblazer who will write a pivotal page of his country’s motorsport history."
Guanyu Zhou will become China's first-ever Formula One driver after Alfa Romeo announced on Tuesday the 22-year-old would drive for the team next season.
"To be the first-ever Chinese driver in Formula 1 is a breakthrough for Chinese motorsport history," said Zhou.
Breaking news! 🗞️ @gyzhou_33 completes our line-up for 2022! 👏
— Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) November 16, 2021
Check the full story 📲 https://t.co/WEr8lhNFEV#AlfaRomeoRacing #ORLEN #TeamZhou pic.twitter.com/nSvZZjNyG8
"I know a lot of hopes will be resting on me and, as ever, I will take this as motivation to become better and achieve more."
Alfa Romeo described their new signing as "a trailblazer who will write a pivotal page of his country’s motorsport history."
On Twitter, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said:
Stefano Domenicali:
— F1 Media (@F1Media) November 16, 2021
“The news Guanyu Zhou will be in F1 next season is fantastic for the sport and the millions of passionate Chinese fans that now have a home hero to cheer all year long. The pyramid in F2 is working and promoting talent to the topflight of motorsport.”
The country of 1.4 billion, which hosted its first Grand Prix in Zhou's home city of Shanghai in 2004, represents a huge market for F1 and constructors like Alfa Romeo.
"I dreamt from a young age of climbing as high as I can in a sport that I am passionate about and now the dream has come true," Alfa Romeo quoted Zhou, who was educated in Britain, as saying.
Zhou has enjoyed a breakthrough year in F2, and is lying second and challenging for the title with races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi to come.
In 2019 He was named best rookie in F2, coming in seventh. Last year he finished sixth after claiming his debut win.
Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur welcomed "all the new Chinese fans who will join the team."
