Formula 1: China’s Zhou Guanyu to drive F1 practice session at Austrian GP
- ‘A dream coming true,’ says 22-year-old, ‘another step closer to my ultimate goal of becoming an F1 driver’
- Formula 2 leader will be first Chinese to take practice session since Ma Qinghua at 2013 Shanghai GP
“Zhou, currently Test Driver for the team and Alpine Academy member since 2019, will be handed his F1 weekend debut for the first practice session of the event, taking Fernando Alonso’s A521 for the duration of the one-hour practice,” they said in a press release.
The current Formula 2 leader expressed his delight at the opportunity.
“Driving in FP1 at a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend is like a dream coming true and another step closer to my ultimate goal of becoming a Formula 1 driver,” the 22-year-old Shanghai native said via Alpine.
“It’s going to be a very special moment. I’m preparing myself as much as I can to be ready and also ensure that I’m able to complete all the targets and plans that the team have set me to do. There have not been many Chinese drivers in Formula 1, so to be behind the wheel of an F1 car during a race weekend is going to be a very proud feeling.
“It’s going to be even more special that I’m driving Fernando’s car as he inspired me to pursue a career in racing when I was young. I’m very happy with my achievements so far and I’m very thankful for the support I have from those around me. My aim is to maximise this opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it.”
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Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi called the move to F1 practice a “logical and important step for one of the Academy’s brightest stars” as he looks to make the jump up from F2.
“This experience will greatly help him as he makes very solid progress towards the ultimate target that constitutes a full-time F1 seat,” Rossi added.
Mia Sharizman, the Alpine Academy Director, was also full of praise for the Chinese driver.
“I am delighted to see Zhou’s development and progress from when he first set foot in the Academy in 2019 to having his first official FP1 session this weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix in Formula 1.
“It has been a long but rewarding process with Zhou putting the hard work in behind the scenes to get to this point in his career. The fact that he is now leading the Formula 2 Championship is proof of this hard work and dedication and we are all looking forward to seeing him in a Formula 1 car this weekend.”
Zhou will be the first Chinese driver since Ma Qinghua drove in the practice session of the 2013 Shanghai Grand Prix. Ma, now 33, never made it in F1 but has been a long-time TOCA Touring Car Championship.
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Zhou’s next Formula 2 race is the UK Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 17 and 18.
