Formula 1: China’s Zhou Guanyu puts in solid testing display, keen to temper expectations ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix

China’s first full-time Formula 1 driver Zhou Guanyu is keen to temper expectations ahead of his debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend, despite a promising performance in final preseason testing.

The 22-year-old completed 82 laps in his Alfa Romeo on Saturday, posting a fastest time of 1:33.959 that placed him 11th on the classification list.

While that was some way short of world champion Max Verstappen’s 1:31.720 for Red Bull Racing, it was still a solid performance from the rookie, who found “a decent amount of speed” out on the track.

“It was a very important day for us as a team and for me as a driver, there was a lot of useful information to take in,” Zhou said.

“I feel like I’m quite mature as a driver, so I won’t do anything risky. I know that in Formula 1 every move is a risk but you have to know that I can do this and I will do it.

“I don’t want to do anything stupid. I want to think about the long term, and I want to learn and improve.”

Video of Chinese F1 driver Zhou Guanyu being subjected to G-Forces goes viral

Testing is not necessarily an indication of how a team will do during the season - event Mercedes have struggled in Bahrain, with Lewis Hamilton finishing 17th in 1:36.217.

But while the seven-time world champion warned fans not to expect him to be in the fight for the win at the start, but the cagey Brit and his team have previous for crying wolf preseason and then blowing away the opposition on race day.

Verstappen, for one, wasn’t being fooled into any false sense of security.

“No one gives full beans or goes to qualifying spec at testing, so we can’t read too much into the timing screens,” he said.

For Zhou, testing has been about getting comfortable with the car and the set-up, learning to work with his crew and engineers. But he too recognises the difference there will be next weekend when the serious business of racing begins.

“You can do as many days testing [as you want], but actually … I’ll learn more in the race weekend coming up, because there will be certain things you didn’t expect to happen,” he said.

“You have to do some changes, and adapt. I think after the first few race weekends then I will be settled and understand everything in the car, but there is a long way to go for me to get this experience on track.”

Zhou is not just under pressure to perform as a rookie, he will also be making history when he lines up on the track next Sunday as the first Chinese driver to race in Formula One.

China’s Ma Qinghua made it as far as practice sessions for the ill-fated Caterham team back in 2012 but, a decade later, Zhou is set to take things to a different level entirely.

And while acknowledging the opportunity he has been given, and the “historic moment for Chinese motorsport”, he said that was not something he thought about any more.

Zhou Guanyu ‘pumped’ for F1 debut as Alfa Romeo unveils red and white livery

Realistic expectations for success, as far as Zhou is concerned, are likely to centre on finishing races and showing gradual signs of improvement as the season progresses.

While the Alfa Romeo rookie said nerves and excitement would combine at the start, his main focus in the first several races would be to “try to make as few mistakes as possible while trying to show my full potential”.

“I think it is very important to be improving race by race, and of course I want to be going to [second qualifying] Q2, I want to be finishing in the points for the team, but I think that will come after all the hard work, after you get everything together,” he said.

“But at the minute for the first two races, because it’s back-to-back, I won’t say I have too much expectation, I just want to be enjoying it and doing my best.”

Additional reporting by Mathew Scott