Formula 1: Zhou Guanyu ‘talking about new deal’ as Alfa Romeo decision looms

China’s first fully fledged F1 driver says team principal Frederic Vasseur is ‘very happy’ despite him again finishing outside points at Dutch Grand Prix

Alfa Romeo set to decide by end of September whether to renew Zhou’s deal for 2023, when the Chinese Grand Prix could return

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Alfa Romeo’s Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu has a one-year deal with the F1 team. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:52pm, 5 Sep 2022

Zhou Guanyu endured another tough day at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing 16th at Zandvoort and failing to score any points for the sixth consecutive Formula 1 race.

A five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, and the emergence of the safety car for a final time towards the end, left the Alfa Romeo driver struggling to get through the midfield and in sight of the points.

Despite the problems of the past few weeks and a car that was “clearly lacking something compared to the rest of the midfield”, Zhou said he still expected to be part of the team in 2023, and brushed aside any concerns his seat was under threat from reserve driver Theo Pourchaire, who is second in the F2 Championship.

While teammate Valtteri Bottas is contracted until 2024, Zhou’s deal was for one year with no guarantees as to what would follow.

Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu (right) steers side-by-side with Williams driver Alexander Albon during the second practice before the Dutch Grand Prix. Photo: AP

But he said team principal Frederic Vasseur was “very happy” with his performance, as was everyone in the factory.

“We obviously started talking about it [a new deal], my side and also from the team side,” Zhou said. “They are very happy with the job I was doing so far. Fred [Vasseur] is very happy and I look forward to continuing with them.