Berlin, November 16 (BNA): Alfa Romeo became the latest Formula 1 team to confirm its squad for next season on Tuesday by revealing that Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou will partner with newcomer Valtteri Bottas in 2022.
The signing of the 22-year-old Formula 2 driver means there is no racing seat for Antonio Giovinazzi, who had been hoping to retain his spot next season. Another current Alfa Romeo driver, former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen, will retire at the end of the year.
Zhou will become the first Chinese driver to race in Formula 1, 10 years after compatriot Ma Chenghua raced weekends without entering a grand prix, the German news agency dpa said.
The Finn will join Chu after leaving Mercedes, who has been replaced by George Russell alongside world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The 27-year-old Italian Giovinazzi has been with Alfa Romeo since 2019, scoring 19 points in his Formula One career, and team boss Frederic Vasseur said: “Saying off the driver is not easy, especially in the case of Antonio, who was part of the team. For a long time “.
Giovinazzi posted on social media that Formula 1 is about “talent, car, risk and speed” and promised to return one day, but also noted that the sport “also knows how to be tough, when money dictates the rules”.
However, Zhou’s performance in the low streak, including victories in F2 that could lead to the championship this season, suggests Giovinazzi’s interpretation is unfair, even if Alfa Romeo publicly acknowledges the existence of a commercial interest.
F1 China has been a major market for years as Shanghai has hosted the Grand Prix since 2004 and the 1000th race in the Elite Series was held there in 2019.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the race to be canceled in 2020 and 2021 but although 2022 will not happen either, the Chinese Grand Prix contract has already been extended until 2025.
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