Formula One: Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo left to rue ‘big opportunity missed’ at US Grand Prix
- Valtteri Bottas spins out in Austin, with Chinese rookie finishing in 13th on Sunday after starting from the back of the grid
- ‘We tried to make something happen,’ says Zhou, as team principal Frederic Vasseur admits they face tough fight to keep hold of position
Alfa Romeo boss Frédéric Vasseur bemoaned a “big opportunity to score points missed” at the US Grand Prix, after Valtteri Bottas spun out and Zhou Guanyu could only finish 13th in Austin on Sunday.
While Max Verstappen was winning his 13th race of the season, equalling the record held by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013), and Red Bull were claiming their first constructors’ championship in nine years, Vasseur was left to ponder what might have been in Texas.
A difficult qualifying session had left Zhou at the back of the grid, but Bottas was 10th and had felt as though the team was “looking really strong for points”.
And after the Finnish driver survived an early scare in the opening lap, when he narrowly avoided the car of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, things were looking up for Bottas until the 18th lap, when he made a mistake going into turn 19 and spun out.
“It was very unfortunate, as our pace was promising, and a points finish could’ve definitely been possible today,” Bottas said. “I’m looking forward to turning the tide next week in Mexico and bringing home some points.”
Zhou at least completed the race, and for a time looked like he might finish in the points after fighting his way into 10th from 18th, but he too came up just short, eventually finishing 13th, although he was later classed as having come 11th with Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso handed post-race penalties.
