Formula 1: Zhou Guanyu savours ‘amazing feeling’ as Italian Grand Prix brings first point in months
- Chinese driver finally back in the points after ‘tough second half of the season’ with Alfa Romeo
- ‘There was a lot of pressure … knowing it was such an important race for the team, I really wanted to get what they deserved,’ Zhou says
Zhou Guanyu scored his first Formula 1 point since June and said finishing 10th at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza was “an amazing feeling”.
After a season of misfortune and struggles with his Alfa Romeo, Zhou’s luck finally changed on Sunday when Daniel Ricciardo’s engine failure with less than six laps to go moved the Chinese driver into the points.
Until then, the 22-year-old, who started ninth on the grid after a number of drivers took engine penalties, had been sitting in 11th and struggling to pass the Williams of Nyck de Vries as the DRS train kept Alfa at bay.
But with Ricciardo’s car stuck on the track, the race finished behind the safety car.
Zhou’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, came home in 13th after fighting back from last having suffered car damage in a first-corner shunt with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen.
“Very happy to finally be back in the points again, it’s been a tough second half of the season for the team, but we saw we had a chance today,” Zhou said.