Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • Formula 1 Calendar
    • Championship Standings
    • Team/Driver Line-Up
    • Session Results
  • Formula E
    • Championship Standings
    • Formula E Calendar
    • Session Results
  • WRC
    • WRC Calendar
    • Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • MotoGP Calendar
    • Team/Rider Line-Up
    • Championship Standings
  • IndyCar
    • IndyCar Calendar
    • Championship Standings
  • WEC
    • WEC Calendar
  • More
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • NASCAR
    • DTM
    • WSeries
    • Extreme E
    • Dakar
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Formula 1
    • Formula 1 Calendar
    • Championship Standings
    • Team/Driver Line-Up
    • Session Results
  • Formula E
    • Championship Standings
    • Formula E Calendar
    • Session Results
  • WRC
    • WRC Calendar
    • Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • MotoGP Calendar
    • Team/Rider Line-Up
    • Championship Standings
  • IndyCar
    • IndyCar Calendar
    • Championship Standings
  • WEC
    • WEC Calendar
  • More
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • NASCAR
    • DTM
    • WSeries
    • Extreme E
    • Dakar
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Zhou ‘China’s only F1 hope for next generation’

by Phillip Horton
1 year ago
0
Zhou ‘China’s only F1 hope for next generation’

Guanyu Zhou (CHN) Renault F1 Team RS20 Test Driver. Formula One Testing, Tuesday 15th December 2020. Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Guanyu Zhou represents China’s sole hope of having a Formula 1 racer for the next couple of decades, according to the director of Alpine’s Academy.

China, the most populated country in the world, has featured on Formula 1’s calendar since 2004, but has never had a grand prix driver.

Ma Qing Hua participated in five practice sessions with HRT and Caterham across 2012/13 though he was never a realistic candidate for a race seat.

Zhou spent several years with Ferrari’s Driver Academy before linking up with Renault ahead of the 2019 season, when he made the step from Formula 3 to Formula 2.

Zhou emerged as 2019’s top rookie, and started 2020 brightly with pole position, but his prospects faded amid a series of setbacks and missed opportunities, placing sixth in the standings.

He will remain in Formula 2 with UNI-Virtuosi for the 2021 season.

Zhou, 21, is also set to retain a direct link with the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team, having been involved at Renault in 2020, participating in private test days prior to an outing in the R.S.20 in Abu Dhabi.

China has its own Formula 4 series, while ex-Renault junior Ye Yifei won 2020’s Euroformula Open title, but Zhou is set to be the sole Chinese driver in the top three tiers of the FIA’s single-seater ladder.

Guanyu Zhou (CHN) Renault F1 Team RS20 Test Driver. Formula One Testing, Tuesday 15th December 2020. Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

“In the case of Zhou specifically we started off the project three years ago with [Formula 1] the aim by the end of his three-year tenure,” said Alpine Academy chief Mia Sharizman.

“It was a once in a generational project, especially for Zhou, coming from China, we will never ever see another Chinese driver for the 15-20 years, whether [even] in Formula 3, Formula 4 or Formula 2.

“I think that is something that from the team itself, Alpine, the Renault Group, we are [more] committed than ever to make sure that happens in the future.”

Sharizman believes that Zhou’s “totally different background” means he has “had to work harder than everyone else” but has confidence in the Shanghai-born driver’s fundamental ability.

“I think that is what you see in Zhou, he is quick, that’s the first thing that we have.

“Yes, there is that level of insecurity in terms of when things go wrong, that [comes with] maturity and experience, if things go wrong that’s where sometimes we have to put them all back together.

“That’s something we need to work with Zhou, of bouncing back, obviously last year he had quite a bit of technical issues, which is a natural thing in Formula 2.

“If you can have a more calm, and more composed [approach], and have a very consistent pace throughout the year, that’s where I think more focus will be on for him this year, to be challenging for the title.”

Zhou emphasised that his target for 2021 is to ensure he is in a prime spot if a Formula 1 opportunity arises.

“Everyone knows you have to get the Super Licence points, so that’s the target this year, as well as trying to win the title,” he said.

“Finishing top three will be enough, but once you have that, the door is always open and I’m pretty confident if I can do a strong season and show my potential I think I will have a good chance.

“But obviously in F1 we don’t have many spare seats per year, so you have to look when the door is open, but now I’m focused on myself and trying to show I am good enough.”

Alpine will field Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon in Formula 1 this year.

Zhou is one of five juniors on Alpine’s roster, alongside Formula 2 rivals Christian Lundgaard and Oscar Piastri, and Formula 3 debutants Victor Martins and Caio Collet.

Tags: ChinaF1Zhou
Share319Tweet199Share80

Related Posts

Horner: Mercedes getting themselves back into 2022 championship
Formula 1

Horner: Mercedes getting themselves back into 2022 championship

2 hours ago
Alonso feels F1 is ‘still worth doing’ beyond 2022
Formula 1

Alonso feels F1 is ‘still worth doing’ beyond 2022

3 hours ago
Haas ‘haven’t yet unleashed full VF-22 potential’ – Steiner
Formula 1

Haas ‘haven’t yet unleashed full VF-22 potential’ – Steiner

1 day ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Horner: Mercedes getting themselves back into 2022 championship
Formula 1

Horner: Mercedes getting themselves back into 2022 championship

May 25, 2022
Alonso feels F1 is ‘still worth doing’ beyond 2022
Formula 1

Alonso feels F1 is ‘still worth doing’ beyond 2022

May 25, 2022

Upcoming Races

# EventLocationDate
6Spanish GPBarcelona22 May
7Monaco GPMonte Carlo29 May
8Azerbaijan GPBaku12 June
9Canadian GPMontreal19 June
10British GPSilverstone3 July

Click here for the full 2022 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

# DriverPts
Max Verstappen110
Charles Leclerc104
Sergio Perez85
George Russell74
Carlos Sainz65
Lewis Hamilton46
Valtteri Bottas38
Lando Norris35
Esteban Ocon30
Kevin Magnussen15

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Motorsport Week

© 2021 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
    • Team/Driver Line-Up
    • Session Results
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
    • Session Results
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
    • Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
  • Other
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • WSeries
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • NASCAR
    • Extreme E
    • Dakar
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2021 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In