Chinese youngster Guan Yu Zhou has stepped up to the role of Renault’s Formula 1 test driver for 2020.
Zhou, 20, held the role of development driver in 2019, having joined Renault’s young driver scheme after a spell on Ferrari’s academy.
Zhou finished seventh in last year’s Formula 2 championship, earning the Anthoine Hubert Award for top rookie honours, and will remain in the category in 2020.
He replaces Williams-bound Jack Aitken in the position.
“I’m looking forward to becoming the team’s test driver,” Zhou said.
“It’s another step up from being development driver in 2019 where I did a lot of simulator work and some R.S.17 tests.
“The feedback and experience in a Formula 1 car is getting better and the team is happy with my progress and input so far.
“They’ve given me a lot of trust and I also trust them, so that relationship works very well.
“This year I have an even better opportunity, meaning working harder than before, getting as much information as possible for driving a Formula 1 car and, at the same time, improving the areas the team needs to work on to help them get better in the future.”
Renault also has fellow Formula 2 racer Christian Lundgaard, Formula 3 racers Max Fewtrell and Oscar Piastri, as well as Eurocup drivers Caio Collet and Hadrien David on its academy.